EU parliament proposes ban on location discrimination for cryptos
The European Parliament committee on internal market and consumer protection has drafted proposals aimed at eliminating location-based discrimination against consumers in the EU, but which also covers "virtual currencies, other blockchain-type transactions and e-wallets". The proposal seeks to impose binding regulations to stamp out unjustified barriers in e-commerce, most notably geo-blocking based on nationality, regarded as one of the biggest obstacles to the digital single market.

A European Parliament committee has put forth a new proposal aiming to prevent location-based discrimination against consumers in the common currency area, including users of digital currencies, CoinDesk reported.



Penned by the European Union Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection, the proposal addresses geo-blocking and other forms of discrimination based on customers’ nationality, place of residence or place of establishment within the internal market. The lawmakers believe that this will ensure that customers and traders are allowed to have commercial transactions without having to experience any unjustified discrimination.



Geo-blocking is one of the major obstacles to “Digital Single Market”, a cohesive European digital common market, according to the lawmakers.



“As a Regulation, it will impose binding obligations to traders from the date of its entry into force, so as to allow customers to access and purchase products, preventing the effects of discrimination based on nationality or place of residence or establishment or payment service. It aims to lift any unjustified barriers in e-commerce and to be a decisive step towards the completion of the Digital Single Market”, the proposal reads.



With regard to digital currencies, the proposal stated:



“The Commission should assess whether to provide the legal framework that allows, subject to the freedom of contract principle, the protection of undertakings and consumers when the transaction is carried through alternative modes of payment, including virtual currencies, other blockchain type transactions and e-wallets.”



Geo-blockchain already exists in the United States, where a number of digital currency-related companies block users residing in New York, following the implementation of ‘BitLicense’ legislation enforced by the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS).