Core Insights - Checkout.com has acquired Blue EMI, a regulated electronic money institution authorized to issue euro-backed stablecoins, enhancing its capabilities for institutional use cases [1][2] - The acquisition allows Checkout.com to leverage Blue EMI's payment services and euro-denominated stablecoin issuance, supporting e-commerce and crowdfunding platforms [2] Group 1: Acquisition Details - Blue EMI operates under the authorization of the Bank of Lithuania and provides various payment services, including issuing euro-denominated stablecoins [2] - Checkout.com has secured all necessary regulatory approvals for the acquisition, indicating compliance with relevant financial regulations [2] Group 2: Expansion Plans - Alongside the acquisition, Checkout.com announced the establishment of a new technology center in Lithuania to support European expansion [3] - The Vilnius hub will focus on product development and cross-border collaboration, creating high-skilled roles in the region [3] - Lithuania was chosen for its favorable fintech regulatory framework, available talent, and access to the SEPA payments system through CENTROlink [3] Group 3: Strategic Vision - Checkout.com’s CEO emphasized that the acquisition is a strategic investment in the European fintech ecosystem, aimed at fostering innovation and maintaining a competitive edge in the digital economy [4] - The company previously partnered with Microsoft to enhance payment performance for enterprise merchants, indicating a focus on technological advancement [4]

New Listing - Folks Finance 新上线 EURC，一种由 Circle 发行的、符合 MiCA 监管且完全支持的欧元稳定币 [1] Crosschain Functionality - EURC 现在可以在 Avalanche (Avax) 上进行跨链借贷 [1]

Core Insights - Nine major European banks are forming a consortium to issue a MiCA-compliant euro stablecoin by 2026, aiming to establish a regulated standard for digital payments as the ECB's digital euro project stalls [2][5][8] Group 1: Consortium Formation - The consortium includes banks such as ING, Banca Sella, KBC, Danske Bank, DekaBank, UniCredit, SEB, CaixaBank, and Raiffeisen Bank International, representing eight countries and various types of lenders [3] - A new entity has been incorporated in the Netherlands, and the group is applying for an electronic money institution (EMI) license from De Nederlandsche Bank [3] Group 2: Stablecoin Structure and Compliance - The stablecoin will be backed 1:1 with euro reserves held in segregated accounts and invested in low-risk, liquid assets [4] - The consortium plans to leverage blockchain technology for transparency, programmability, and instant settlement while ensuring compliance with MiCA's stringent requirements [4] Group 3: Market Positioning - The euro stablecoin is expected to challenge the dominance of dollar-backed stablecoins, which currently hold a significant share of the global stablecoin market [5] - The initiative reflects European banks' desire to defend the euro's role in the global economy amid frustrations with the ECB's slow progress on its digital euro [5][6] Group 4: Future Implications - The project aims to provide European businesses and consumers with earlier access to programmable money within a regulated framework, potentially closing the gap with faster-moving markets like the U.S. and Asia [9] - If successful, this euro stablecoin could represent a significant step towards integrating traditional finance with blockchain technology, accelerating Europe's transition to a hybrid system of public and private digital money [9]