BNP Paribas Joins EU Bank Stablecoin Venture Helmed by Ex-Coinbase Germany Exec

Group 1 - BNP Paribas is joining nine other European banks in a joint venture to issue a stablecoin, reflecting traditional financial firms' interest in the growing digital asset market [1][2] - The initiative, named Qivalis, is based in Amsterdam and includes banks such as ING, UniCredit, and CaixaBank, with plans to launch the stablecoin in the second half of 2026 [2][5] - The venture aims to create a blockchain-native digital payment infrastructure in Europe that complies with the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulations, focusing on corporate client needs [3][4] Group 2 - Stablecoins are gaining popularity as a cost-effective and faster alternative for cross-border payments, with the ten banks seeking to provide an alternative to dominant dollar-pegged stablecoins like USDT and USDC in the $300 billion market [4] - Euro-denominated stablecoins have struggled, with a total supply of only $670 million; Société Générale's euro token (EURCV) has a market value of $62 million, while Circle Internet's EURC leads with $330 million [5] - Qivalis is developing its governance framework and anticipates receiving regulatory approval before its planned launch in 2026 [5]