10 European Banks Form Stablecoin Company qivalis

Group 1: Launch of qivalis - A coalition of ten major European banks has launched a new Amsterdam-based company called qivalis to create a euro-pegged stablecoin aimed at countering the dominance of US digital-dollar systems [1] - The consortium includes major banks such as ING, UniCredit, BNP Paribas, and others, with a goal to establish a regulated European alternative to USD-focused tokens like USDT and USDC, which currently have a market cap of $261 billion [1] Group 2: Leadership and Licensing - Jan-Oliver Sell, previously with Coinbase, has been appointed as CEO of qivalis, with Floris Lugt from ING as CFO and Howard Davies as board chair [2] - The company plans to secure an Electronic Money Institution license from the Dutch central bank, a process expected to take six to nine months, aiming to launch the euro-backed stablecoin in early 2026 [2] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - The United States is accelerating its stablecoin expansion under the GENIUS Act, which promotes dollar-backed token issuance to enhance US monetary influence abroad [3] - qivalis aims to reclaim monetary ground for Europe, positioning itself to compete with established players like Tether and Circle [3] Group 4: Systemic Risks of Stablecoins - The Swedish central bank has released a report analyzing systemic risks associated with widespread stablecoin adoption, warning of potential impacts on the traditional banking sector if households shift savings into private digital assets [4] - Concerns include higher funding costs for banks, tighter lending conditions, and upward pressure on mortgage and business loan rates [4] Group 5: Regulatory Environment - The report highlights issues such as fire-sale dynamics during redemption waves, inconsistencies in issuer guarantees, and competition among private currencies that may trade at discounts [5] - Although the MiCA regulation provides a legal framework for stablecoins backed by central-bank reserves, access to settlement accounts remains restricted by the European Central Bank and national central banks [5][6] Group 6: Poland's Regulatory Stance - Poland's President vetoed a crypto bill that would align the country with EU crypto regulations, citing concerns over civil freedoms and the potential negative impact on small businesses due to regulatory fees [7]