Germany’s top financial watchdog BaFin has officially closed its enforcement case against Ethena GmbH, the German subsidiary of stablecoin issuer Ethena Labs. The move concludes a four-month regulatory conflict centered around the issuance of the USDe stablecoin and associated yield-bearing products.
42-Day Redemption Plan Finalized
On Wednesday, Ethena Labs and BaFin jointly announced a 42-day redemption window for USDe holders. The plan, which began this week, will allow investors to file redemption claims with Ethena GmbH until August 6.
All claims will be overseen by a BaFin-appointed special representative, ensuring legal and procedural compliance. After this date, Ethena GmbH will be considered dissolved within Germany, the EU, and the EEA.
From August 7 onward, all USDe-related claims must be directed to Ethena’s offshore entity, Ethena (BVI) Ltd.
Background: Why BaFin Took Action
The dispute began on March 21, when BaFin banned Ethena GmbH from offering its USDe stablecoin publicly. The regulator alleged:
- Violations of the EU’s MiCA framework
- The unauthorized sale of unregistered securities through yield-bearing sUSDe tokens
- Non-compliance in reserve asset management and investor disclosures
Sanctions were swift. BaFin:
- Froze USDe reserves
- Ordered the shutdown of Ethena GmbH’s website
- Barred the company from onboarding new users
- Blocked further minting and redemption of USDe in Germany
Ethena Labs responded by beginning the wind-down of its German operations on April 15, withdrawing its MiCA application, and halting all related services under Ethena GmbH.
Current Status and Market Impact
While Ethena GmbH is exiting the European regulatory framework, Ethena Labs continues to operate through its international affiliate, Ethena (BVI) Ltd. Notably, around 5.6 billion USDe tokens remain in circulation, most issued before MiCA took effect and held by global users.
The company confirmed that once the redemption plan concludes, there will be no further regulatory issues involving Ethena GmbH.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.