“Europe Must Compete”: EU Official Demands Euro Stablecoins to Break US Dollar’s Monopoly

Core Viewpoint - A senior EU official advocates for the creation of euro-backed stablecoins to reduce reliance on U.S. dollar-pegged tokens in the global crypto market [1][2][3] Group 1: Need for Euro-Backed Stablecoins - The EU should not depend on U.S. dollar-denominated stablecoins, which currently dominate the market [2] - Stablecoins are seen as essential in the evolving financial landscape, and Europe must facilitate the issuance of euro-denominated stablecoins by domestic issuers [2][3] Group 2: Digital Euro Initiative - The digital euro initiative is gaining momentum, with the ECB potentially rolling it out by 2029 [5] - Recent discussions among euro area finance chiefs have been described as a "major breakthrough" in reaching consensus on customer holding limits to protect bank deposits [5][6] - The digital euro aims to reduce reliance on private payment companies and curb the influence of dollar-denominated stablecoins in Europe [6] Group 3: Support from EU Officials - Paschal Donohoe, president of the Eurogroup, supports financial innovation and highlights the potential benefits of the digital euro for regional commerce [4] - The European Parliament is expected to have a position on the legislative framework for the digital euro by early May next year [6] Group 4: Challenges Ahead - Several unresolved technical and policy questions remain, including privacy safeguards and the operational framework of the currency [7]