Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo hosts regional conference on cyber risk, digital resilience and cryptoasset supervision

The Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo held a regional banking regulation and supervision conference in Pristina focused on cyber risk, digital operational resilience and implementation of the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). Organized with the Center of Excellence in Finance and supported by the central banks of Slovenia and Latvia, the event brought together regulators, supervisors and financial sector specialists. In his opening remarks, Governor Ahmet Ismaili emphasized proportionate regulation based on risk that allows innovation without unnecessary barriers while maintaining effective supervision and consumer protection. Ismaili highlighted practical challenges in licensing, governance, transparency and oversight of complex activities. On digital resilience, he emphasized information system security, the responsibilities of governing bodies and financial institutions’ operational resilience in line with European developments and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). These discussions reflect existing central bank priorities to strengthen the Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process (SREP), macroprudential oversight and systemic risk monitoring, alongside ongoing development of cryptoasset and cybersecurity frameworks. The conference also provided an update on the related payments modernization agenda, including the TIPS Clone instant payment system and preparations for the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). Ismaili reiterated that recently approved amendments to legislation on preventing money laundering and combating terrorist financing address prerequisites for Kosovo’s SEPA application. Implementing regulations and completion of the relevant procedures remain necessary before submission, consistent with the central bank’s previously outlined application steps.