On 3–4 March 2026, the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Central Bank of Kosovo organised a workshop on “Guidance and capacity building for the supervision of Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs).” The event brough together representatives of the Central Bank, the Financial Intelligence Unit, Tax Administration and Council of Europe.
The two-day workshop focused on presenting and discussing the proposed Manual on the supervision of Virtual Asset Service Providers, developed to support prudential oversight of the rapidly evolving crypto-asset sector in Kosovo. Participants examined how international standards, including the FATF recommendations and the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) inform the development of the supervisory framework.
Under the guidance of the Council of Europe expertise, participants addressed the authorisation process and risk-based supervisory strategy, covering licensing procedures, decision-making processes and corporate-level risk assessment. In addition, participants were provided with practical supervisory tools, including off-site monitoring, on-site inspections, corrective measures and enforcement actions. Practical exercises enabled participants to review simulated VASP applications and design supervisory plans based on risk profiles. Participants also discussed supervisory governance, documentation standards and quality assurance mechanisms to ensure credible and consistent supervisory outcomes.
The workshop provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange experience and provide feedback on the draft manual, contributing to its finalisation and supporting the effective integration of VASP supervision within the existing AML/CFT frameworks.
The activity was organised within the framework of the Action on Countering Corruption and Economic Crime funded and implemented by the Council of Europe.
*All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations' Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.