The following is a guest post and opinion of Eneko Knörr, CEO and Co-Founder of Stabolut.

Months ago, in an op-ed for CryptoSlate, I warned that the EU’s flagship crypto regulation, MiCA, would achieve the opposite of its goals. I argued it would strangle euro innovation while cementing the US dollar’s dominance for a new generation.

At the time, some thought this was alarmist. Today, with grim validation, the same concerns are being echoed from within the European Central Bank itself. In a recent blog post, also highlighted by the Financial Times, ECB advisor Jürgen Schaaf described the state of the euro-denominated stablecoin market as “dismal” and warned that Europe risks being “steamrollered” by dollar-based competitors.

This warning comes at a critical time. In the traditional global economy, non-USD currencies are the lifeblood of commerce. They account for 73% of global GDP, 53% of SWIFT transactions, and 42% of central bank reserves. Yet, in the burgeoning digital economy, these same currencies are nearly invisible. The world’s second most important currency, the euro, has been reduced to a digital rounding error.

By the Numbers: A Digital Chasm

The data reveals a startling disconnect. While privately issued, dollar-denominated stablecoins command a market capitalization approaching $300 billion, their euro-denominated counterparts struggle to reach $450 million, according to data from CoinGecko. That’s a market share of just 0.15%.

This isn’t a gap; it’s a chasm. It means that for every €1 of value transacted on a blockchain, there are nearly €700 in US dollars. This dollarization of the digital world presents a profound strategic risk to Europe’s monetary sovereignty and economic competitiveness.

MiCA’s Billion-Euro Handbrake

The EU’s landmark Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation was intended to create clarity, but in its ambition to control risk, it has inadvertently built a cage. While its framework for E-Money Tokens (EMTs) provides a path to regulation, it contains a poison pill for any euro stablecoin with global ambitions.

The single biggest limitation is the €200 million cap on daily transactions for any EMT deemed “significant,” as detailed in the official MiCA text. This isn’t an accident or a simple oversight; it’s a feature designed to ensure no private euro stablecoin can ever truly succeed.

For context, the leading dollar stablecoin, Tether (USDT), regularly processes over $50 billion in daily volume. A €200 million cap isn’t a safety measure; it’s a declaration of non-ambition that makes it mathematically impossible for a euro stablecoin to function at the scale required for international trade or decentralized finance.

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The motivation seems clear: policymakers are intentionally sabotaging the private sector to clear the field for their own project—the Digital Euro.

The Digital Euro: A Threat to Citizen Privacy?

By stifling private innovation, the EU is placing all its bets on a state-controlled Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). This is not only a slow, centralized answer to a fast-moving, decentralized market, but it also poses a fundamental threat to the privacy of European citizens.

Physical cash offers anonymity. A transaction with a €5 note is private, peer-to-peer, and leaves no data trail. A CBDC is the opposite. It would move all transactions onto a centralized digital ledger, creating a system of granular surveillance. It gives the state the potential power to monitor, track, and even control how every citizen uses their own money. Building the euro’s future on this foundation means swapping the freedom of the wallet for a transparent digital piggy bank—a trade-off most citizens would rightly refuse.

The Global Race Europe Is Ignoring

While Brussels focuses on building its walled garden, other major economic powers have recognized the strategic importance of privately issued stablecoins. They see them not as a threat but as a vital tool for projecting monetary influence in the digital age.

Even China is reportedly exploring the role a CNY-backed stablecoin could play in internationalizing the yuan. In Japan, regulators have already passed a landmark stablecoin bill, creating clear pathways for the issuance of yen-backed stablecoins. These nations understand that the digital currency war will be won by empowering private innovation, not by centralizing control. Europe’s current path makes it a spectator in a race it should be leading.

A Policy Playbook for the Euro

If the euro is to compete, Brussels must execute a radical policy U-turn. The goal shouldn’t be to contain stablecoins but to make the EU the premier global hub for issuing them. This requires a clear-eyed strategy that recognizes private innovation will always outpace centralized solutions.

Here is a playbook for how Europe can win:

1. Uncap the Future: Remove the crippling €200 million transaction cap entirely. The market, not regulators, should determine the scale of a successful project. Let euro stablecoins grow ad infinitum and compete on a global stage without artificial ceilings.
2. Fast-Track Licensing: Establish a pan-European fast-track authorization process for qualified EMT issuers to reduce time-to-market and encourage a vibrant, competitive ecosystem.
3. Follow the US Model—Cancel the CBDC: The United States has gained its advantage by prioritizing regulatory clarity for private issuers while effectively shelving its own retail CBDC plans. Europe must do the same. Formally cancel the Digital Euro project, acknowledge the fundamental privacy risks it poses, and recognize that the single best strategy to grow the euro’s international influence is to fully support a thriving, privately issued stablecoin market.

The choice is stark: Europe can continue down its path of self-imposed digital irrelevance, or it can unleash its innovators to build the future of finance. Right now, that future is being built almost entirely with American digital dollars, and time is running out to change that.

The European Central Bank said that its proposed digital euro would strengthen Europe’s defenses against cyber and infrastructure disruptions while ensuring broad access to digital payments.

Piero Cipollone, a member of the ECB’s Executive Board, told the European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee that resilience and inclusiveness must be central features as the bloc prepares to complement physical cash with a central bank-issued digital version.

The remarks marked the ECB’s 14th update to lawmakers on the central bank digital currency project.

Building resilience in payments

Cipollone said Europe’s reliance on foreign payment providers exposes citizens to risks in times of crisis. He cited incidents ranging from undersea cable sabotage in the Baltic Sea to recent power outages in Spain and Portugal as examples of how vulnerable infrastructures can disrupt daily transactions.

He argued that the digital euro would provide “spare capacity” in the financial system by adding public payment rails alongside private solutions.

Planned safeguards include transaction processing across multiple regions, a mandatory ECB-run app to ensure continuity if banks are targeted by cyberattacks, and offline functionality that would allow peer-to-peer payments during power or network outages.

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Ensuring inclusion for all citizens

Cipollone stressed that the digital euro must also serve Europeans at risk of being excluded from a cash-light economy.

He pointed to more than 30 million people in Europe who are blind or partially sighted, at least 34 million who are deaf or hard of hearing, and citizens with limited digital literacy.

The ECB said it is working with consumer groups to design adaptive interfaces, including voice commands and large-font displays, and will require payment providers to support its own app to guarantee basic access.

Local institutions such as post offices and libraries could also provide free support to those least familiar with digital tools.

January 14th Bitfinex announces a list of Stablr USD (USDR) and Stablr Euro (EURR) 

The new list supports growing demand across Europe for digital assets

Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands – January 14, 2025 – Bitfinex, the leading digital asset trading platform, today announced the list of Stablr USD (USDR) and Stablr Euro (EURR).

Bitfinex lists Ethereum-based USDR and EURR tokens. It is intended to address the growing need for digital assets of reliable and accessible Stablecoin pages. token. It also complies with the new European Union market for cryptocurrency regulations.

“By adding Stablr USD and Stablr Euro to our platform, we highlight Bitfinex’s dedication to meeting the evolving needs of our customers with innovative and reliable digital assets.” said Anoush Bhasin, Bitfinex’s listing director. “These stability provides a robust solution to growing demand in the European market, providing users with the stability and efficiency they need to confidently navigate the digital asset ecosystem.”

STABLR USD (USDR) and STABLR EURO (EURR) deposits are scheduled to open around 2pm on January 14, 2025 at UTC, which is subject to network conditions. The transaction is scheduled to begin at about 3pm on January 16, 2025, provided that liquidity requirements are met.

To gain access to Stablr USD (USDR) and Stablr Euro (EURR) with Bitfinex, customers can visit https://www.bitfinex.com/.

*All users of www.bitfinex.com are subject to Bitfinex Terms of Service (“TOS”). Please note that among other prohibited persons (as defined in TOS), US people (as defined in TOS) are strictly prohibited from directly or indirectly retaining, owning or operating their www.bitfinex.com account (as defined in TOS).

About Bitfinex

Founded in 2012, Bitfinex is a digital token trading platform that provides cutting-edge services for traders and global liquidity providers. In addition to a range of advanced trading capabilities and charting tools, Bitfinex offers access to peer-to-peer financing, the OTC market and margin trading for a wide selection of digital tokens. Bitfinex’s strategy focuses on providing unparalleled support, tools and innovation to experienced traders and liquidity providers around the world. For more information, please visit www.bitfinex.com.

Bitfinex media contacts

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Please see the official logo and branding

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitfinex-announces-a-list-of-stablr-usd-usdr-and-stablr-euro-eurr/feed/ 0 47268 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/pwc-predicts-digital-euro-will-cost-e18-billion-why-bitcoin-is-better-cheaper-safer/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/pwc-predicts-digital-euro-will-cost-e18-billion-why-bitcoin-is-better-cheaper-safer/#respond Wed, 18 Jun 2025 06:22:13 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/pwc-predicts-digital-euro-will-cost-e18-billion-why-bitcoin-is-better-cheaper-safer/

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PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has just released its Digital Euro Cost Study, which estimates the costs involved in introducing a digital euro at €18B, most of which will be borne by local retail banks.

Commissioned by several European banking associations (EACB, EBF, ESBG), the findings reiterate what Bitcoin maximalists have been saying forever: why not just use Bitcoin?

Unlike a central bank digital currency (CBDC), Bitcoin offers lower costs, quicker transactions, enhanced security and privacy, and it’s a household name in contemporary financial culture.

Also, as the first and still the biggest decentralized cryptocurrency, $BTC lets ordinary people participate in building out and profiting from the financial infrastructure of the future.

This article digs into PwC’s findings and recommendations. It also gets into the wider digital currency debate and investigates why many still see Bitcoin as the best digital currency.

Finally, we’ll look at several ways for just about anyone to capitalize on Bitcoin’s growth.

The ECB Case for a Digital Euro

The European Central Bank (ECB) believes a digital euro will reinforce Europe’s financial independence while securing the central bank’s place in an increasingly digitalized economy.

And the EU is not alone. Most countries have flirted with the idea of a CBDC at one point or another.

With cash usage declining, a secure digital version of the euro — one that isn’t reliant on foreign tech and payment providers — would help the ECB retain control over the euro zone’s monetary system.

Citizens and businesses would surely welcome a public digital payment method that works as legal tender, is as easy to use as cash, and is accepted across the entire eurozone.

On the other hand, local retail banks and branches were concerned that the brunt of the change would fall on them, which is why they commissioned PwC to calculate the costs.

PwC Digital Euro Cost Study: Costs and Concerns

The Digital Euro Cost Study was commissioned to work out what introducing the digital euro across the euro area would cost retail banks. Here’s what they found:

The PwC recommends that the ECB provide retail banks with a clear compensation model and cost-benefit analysis to ensure they don’t have to bear an unfair load of the change costs.

The Case for Bitcoin

Bitcoin maximalists would argue that a CBDC is unnecessary and a step backward, and that Bitcoin is superior to a central bank digital currency in almost every respect.

Unlike a digital euro, which would be issued, regulated, and monitored by the ECB. Bitcoin champions freedom and privacy — blockchain transactions don’t lead back to your personal identity.

The best part is that Bitcoin welcomes anyone, not just the banks, to build on its infrastructure and profit from their participation.

Invest Now in the Bitcoin Economy

Whether the digital euro comes to pass, $BTC shows no signs of slowing. From Strategy to Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, and JPMorgan, the world’s biggest asset managers and payment providers are putting their past grievances behind them and going all in on crypto.

National Bitcoin reserves are on the agenda, from the US to El Salvador, to Russia, and crypto is breaking into the Nasdaq, as it cleans up its image and takes on Wall Street.

In a Bitcoin-led economy, related DeFi projects can also carve out a niche while offering a low-cap entry point for retail investors who want a piece of action.

Below, we explore why these are some of the best presales to buy now.

1. Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) — Layer 2 Blockchain Unleashing Bitcoin’s Utility

Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is the Layer-2 upgrade Bitcoin Maximalists have long been asking for.

It helps Bitcoin compete with fast chains like Solana. And it lets developers and everyday people use $BTC in new and varied ways, from making instant payments to DeFi, NFTs, and even online gaming.

As it stands, Bitcoin’s sluggish speed, high fees, heavy congestion, and limited scalability have prevented its usefulness as legal tender for small, daily payments.

Bitcoin Hyper uses the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) for lightning-fast execution of smart contracts, boosting scalability and delivering transaction speeds and fees on par with Solana.

Layer 2 transactions are then batched and compressed for near-instant finality and confirmation on the main net.

Thanks to real-time synchronization between Bitcoin Hyper’s Layer-2 and Bitcoin’s Layer-1, everything is always 100% transparent and secure.

The project has been in presale since May 16, 2025, and has already accumulated over $1.3M.

You can get in at the official $HYPER presale page, or read our guide on how to buy $HYPER for more information.

2. Best Wallet Token — You Can Bet on People Needing a Good, Private Wallet

Another way to back a Bitcoin-based financial system is to invest in the growth of a top new crypto wallet, Best Wallet.

A challenger brand in the non-custodial crypto wallet space, Best Wallet enables seamless cross-chain swaps with the lowest fees and the best exchange rates.

Aside from just trading and storing your crypto safely in Best Wallet, buying and holding its native Best Wallet Token ($BEST) lets you ride its success as the demand for crypto wallets continues to grow.

You’ll also enjoy higher staking rewards, reduced on-chain transaction fees, community governance rights, and early access to upcoming projects.

The presale has already raised over $13.3M with 25M+ tokens staked, showing strong confidence in the project’s ambition to take 40% of the crypto wallet market by 2026.

Find out how to buy $BEST and join the staking pool today, or read our complete Best Wallet review for more information on this powerful new Bitcoin wallet.

You Can’t Beat Bitcoin

The PwC report confirms that Bitcoin is best for everyone but the central bank, and you can’t lose investing in Bitcoin and related infrastructure like Bitcoin Hyper and Best Wallet Token.

As always, however, this is not financial advice, and you should DYOR before making any investment.

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

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Bitcoin proponent Michael Saylor has publicly stated that the European Union should consider buying Bitcoin, especially after the Euro experienced a recent drop in value. According to reports, the Euro (EUR) has weakened against the United States dollar (USD) since yesterday.

The decline followed a report from the Federal Reserve that many interpreted as leaning towards lower interest rates in the future. The Euro’s value fell from a high of 1.08 against the USD on Thursday to its current level of 1.07.

“Europe gonna need Bitcoin” – @saylor

With rising debt, inflation and financial centralization — a digital euro (CBDC) set for launch in 2025 — Bitcoin is not just an option, it’s the alternative… The question is not if but when Europe will realize it. https://t.co/3AkOUnbBwY pic.twitter.com/AG01HkR4ex

— BTC Prague (@BTCPrague) March 20, 2025

Euro Under Pressure Following Fed Signals

The recent weakening of the Euro occurred after the Fed decided to keep interest rates steady. These rates have remained between 4.25% and 4.50% since December. However, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reportedly suggested the possibility of a 50-basis-point rate cut before the end of 2025.

Furthermore, the Central Bank has been under pressure from US President Donald Trump to cut interest rates, claiming that this is the proper course of action.

The greenback has increased in relation to other currencies, particularly the Euro, as a result of the rally in US stocks and bonds brought on by these dovish US sentiment.

Saylor’s Bitcoin Pitch As A Potential Hedge

Saylor, executive chairman and co-founder of MicroStrategy (now Strategy), said on social media that Bitcoin might provide a remedy amid this currency movement. In a statement made public this week, Saylor appeared to urge the European Union to proceed swiftly with any intentions to purchase BTC.

EUR gonna need BTC

— Michael Saylor (@saylor) March 20, 2025

He implied that if the EU had held Bitcoin, it could have acted as a protection against the recent decrease in the Euro’s value. For context, the price of Bitcoin has risen by 2.6% against the US dollar in the last 24 hours, trading at $85,400, at the time of writing.

Saylor also pointed out how the US dollar has far outperformed the Turkish Lira (TRY) since 2021, and how this has resulted in a significant devaluation of the Turkish currency. He observed that Bitcoin has been among the top-performing assets in the same timeframe.

EU’s Potential Crypto Venture Gains Traction

A member of the European Parliament, Sarah Knafo, has recently urged the EU to consider establishing a strategic reserve of Bitcoin.

She highlighted the apparent success of El Salvador, a country that has officially adopted Bitcoin. According to reports, El Salvador’s economy has been transformed through President Nayib Bukele’s adoption of Bitcoin and other forward-thinking initiatives.

Featured image from Gemini Imagen, chart from TradingView

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Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, said that the ECB is aggressively pursuing the idea of a digital euro and expects to finish the testing phase by October 2025. If it goes through, it will be the EU’s first Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

Unlike cryptocurrencies, CBDCs aren’t decentralized or run on blockchain. They’re pegged to a country’s national currency, so the value of 1 digital euro is equal to the value of one physical euro.

CBDCs have been a hot topic of debate for a long time now. Proponents believe they’re absolutely essential to move to a cashless economy. They also argue that they’re a lifeline for unbanked populations, especially in regions where traditional banking infrastructure is limited.

Detractors feel they centralize financial power, contradicting the decentralized ethos of cryptocurrencies.

So, the real question is, why is Europe pushing for a CBDC?

The Hidden CBDC Motives

Not to stir up conspiracy here, but it’s a well-known fact that CBDCs give the government more control over people’s finances. They’re often viewed as a threat to the very freedom that’s been a central tenet of cryptocurrencies.

Even US President Trump has taken a firm stance against CBDCs, calling them a “dangerous threat to freedom,” and citing concerns about potential government overreach and the risk of financial surveillance. In January 2025, he signed an executive order banning CBDCs in the US.

Digital Euro May Result in a Crypto Bull Run

Despite all this, the EU is pushing forward with its plans. Whatever the motives behind the creation of the digital euro may be, the crypto market is sure to make its feelings known. Enthusiastic investors might go on to buy crypto aggressively to reinforce their support for the original mechanism.

Moreover, with the announcement of a US Bitcoin reserve and several pro-crypto regulatory changes in the pipeline, the time seems ripe for the next crypto boom. And this digital euro announcement might just be the spark needed to set off the explosion.

If that happens, everyone is going to need a good crypto wallet, which may just be the investment opportunity of the day. Enter Best Wallet Token ($BEST).

What Is $BEST?

$BEST is the native token of the Best Wallet App – a secure, multi-chain, non-custodial crypto wallet that looks set to claim 40% of the crypto wallet market by 2026.

Security-wise, too, you can’t go wrong with Best Wallet, which uses Fireblock’s MPC-CMP wallet technology along with multi-factor authentication and biometrics for airtight privacy and security.

By holding $BEST tokens and using the Best Wallet App, you benefit from no gas fees plus loads of airdrop rewards. You earn free $BEST tokens by frequently using Best Wallet, completing daily quests, and engaging with Best Wallet socials.

Holding the $BEST token comes with a lot of other insider perks. For instance, it’ll unlock the ‘upcoming tokens’ section on the app. Here, you can find all trending meme coin presales well before they go on sale to the general public.

This gives you the opportunity to become an early investor in high-potential cryptos. Moreover, each of these coins is vetted by the Best Wallet team, meaning you can rest assured that they’re not scams or random hoax websites.

Aside from no gas fees on the platform, holders can also benefit from a high staking reward, currently at 145% p.a.

Why Should You Invest in $BEST?

The total crypto wallet market is expected to surge to a massive $32B by 2030. As one of the fastest-growing crypto wallets right now, with a 50% month-on-month user base increase, Best Wallet is positioned to profit from this. If it goes on to capture its projected 40% slice of the market, and you’re along for the ride, your wallet could fill up fast.

In addition to benefitting from the app’s growth, $BEST token holders will also enjoy regular market updates and access to real-time charts. This way, they’ll stay abreast with what’s happening in the crypto space.

Developers also have plans to introduce the Best Card – a crypto debit card that lets you spend your cryptocurrency anywhere.

At the pace at which crypto is breaking into the mainstream, it’s easy to see why $BEST could be the next crypto to explode.

The $BEST presale has been performing phenomenally well, having raised nearly $11M so far.

Currently available at a price of just $0.0243, the next $BEST price increase will take place in less than two days. So, this might be the last chance to grab $BEST before it becomes a trending crypto.

However, since crypto investments are subject to market risks, it’s important to do your own research before jumping in. This article isn’t financial advice, and it’s always best to consult a financial advisor before investing in any cryptocurrencies.