Regulatory landscape of blockchain assets: Analyzing the drivers of NFT and cryptocurrency regulation

The study analyzes the global regulatory landscape for blockchain assets, particularly cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens, focusing on the motivations behind policymaker actions, the diversity of regulatory approaches, the challenges posed by decentralized technologies and provide future regulatory pathways. The study uses a conceptual and mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative content analysis of 59 peer-reviewed articles selected through the PRISMA framework. Findings reveal that regulation is primarily driven by concerns over consumer protection, financial stability, anti-money laundering, taxation, and environmental sustainability. Regulatory responses vary widely, ranging from the harmonized MiCA framework in the EU to the fragmented enforcement model in the U.S., along with diverse strategies across Asia. Stablecoins, DeFi, and CBDCs emerge as major regulatory frontiers. The study recommends adopting regulatory sandboxes, promoting international coordination, enforcing environmental standards, and building regulatory capacity in emerging economies to balance innovation with risk mitigation. It also highlights the importance of industry self-regulation and technology-assisted compliance in decentralized finance. The limitation of this study is that it relies solely on secondary data sources, which may limit the accuracy of real-time policy impact assessments. Future research should focus on empirical validation and dynamic policy modeling to enhance global governance of digital assets.