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Crypto assets, cyber security… a busy summer in the media for Yamina Tadjeddine

31 August 2026

The summer of 2026 was marked by several economic and technological issues. The entry into force in early July of the European MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) Regulation, adopted in 2023, marks a new phase in the regulation of crypto assets. At the same time,a massive wave of cyberattacks, which notably targeted several French public administrations, including the Directorate-General for Public Finances (DGFiP), has brought issues of cybersecurity and data protection back to the forefront. Against this backdrop, Yamina Tadjeddine, a professor of economics at the University of Lorraine and a researcher at BETA, has been approached by several media outlets to put these developments into context and analyse the economic, financial and regulatory implications.

Regulation of crypto-assets: understanding the effects of the MiCA Regulation coming into force

With the European MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) Regulation having been fully applicable across the European Union since 1 July 2026, the crypto-asset sector is undergoing a profound restructuring. Of the several thousand market participants in the European market, only a fraction have obtained the necessary authorisations to continue their activities, illustrating the scale of the change in European regulation.

In a series of interviews with L’Humanité and Alternatives Économiques, Yamina Tadjeddine analysed the consequences of the entry into force of the European MiCA Regulation on the crypto-asset market. She emphasises that this regulation responds to the rapid growth of a sector that has long been poorly regulated and characterised by recurrent fraud. By imposing requirements for transparency, governance and know-your-customer (KYC) procedures, the regulation brings crypto-assets into line with the standards of traditional finance.

The researcher places this development within a broader historical perspective. In her view, crypto-assets are following a trajectory comparable to that of other financial innovations: originally conceived on the fringes of institutions and intermediaries, they tend to be gradually standardised and integrated into regulatory frameworks as their reach expands. However, this regulation remains incomplete. Whilst the MiCA regulation now governs a large proportion of crypto-asset-related activities, certain grey areas remain.

Cyberattacks and data resale: a structured economic market

Another major topical issue this summer was the rise in cyberattacks and the economic consequences of large-scale personal data thefts. Following several incidents affecting French institutions and businesses, the media turned their attention to the economic mechanisms underpinning these illicit activities.

Appearing as a guest on Le Journal de l’Éco on France Culture, Yamina Tadjeddine discussed the growing structure of the market for reselling stolen data. Her comments shed light on the economic logic at work behind cyberattacks: the organisation of criminal networks, the commercial value of personal data, and the development of specialised ecosystems that transform stolen information into an economic resource.

Through these various media appearances, the researcher helps to foster public debate on issues at the intersection of finance, digital technology and regulatory policy, offering an economist’s perspective on matters that directly affect citizens, businesses and public authorities.