France has approved the sale of a majority stake in a key data center unit of state-owned Electricité de France (EDF) to U.S.-based bitcoin miner MARA Holdings Inc., after months of national security review.

MARA, headquartered in Florida, is acquiring a 64% stake in Exaion, a subsidiary that operates high-performance computing infrastructure for digital workloads. The deal, first announced in August 2025, is valued at $168 million.

The transaction raised concerns in Paris about potential foreign control over digital infrastructure. In response, the French government imposed conditions before signing off.

NJJ Capital, an investment firm controlled by telecom billionaire Xavier Niel, will take a 10% stake in Mara France, the local entity handling the acquisition, in exchange for a requirement that a French investor step in. EDF will keep a minority stake and continue as a client of Exaion.

Finance Minister Roland Lescure called the outcome a sign that France remains open to international investment while still defending its strategic interests.

“In this operation, the State is advancing on two fronts: we are confirming France’s attractiveness for international investment, while ensuring uncompromising protection of our strategic interests and our technological sovereignty,” the Minister said. A government statement added that no sensitive EDF data will remain with Exaion following the sale.

Exaion’s board of directors will now include representatives from MARA, EDF, and NJJ.

If history is to repeat now, XRP could go beyond $3.00.

Ripple’s cross-border token became one of the most volatile assets in the cryptocurrency space after the 2024 presidential elections in the US, going from $0.60 to over $3.60 within less than a year, before it crashed to $1.11 earlier this month.

Following this 70% decline from July 2025 to February 2026, the token has seen its “largest on-chain realized loss spike since 2022,” said Santiment. However, this could be a blessing in disguise for token holders.

The analyst from the analytics company noted that the last time such massive realized losses were recorded, of -$1.93 billion, the underlying asset exploded by 114% in the following eight months. If such a spectacular price increase is to repeat now, it would put XRP’s valuation at over $3.00.

“Significant realized losses happen when a large number of investors sell their coins at a price lower than what they originally paid. This usually coincides with fear taking over. When traders panic and capitulate, they lock in their losses instead of holding and hoping for a rebound,” explained the company.

However, the analysts added that while this might feel negative in the short-term, it can be an important price signal for the longer run.

If the so-called weak hands have already sold, fewer sellers are left to push the asset lower. Or, as Santiment put it: “a wave of heavy realized loss can mean that much of the damage has already been done.”

Additionally, the analysis reads that such large increases in realized losses occur near market bottoms because “extreme fear tends to peak before price does.”

“Once sellers are exhausted, even a small amount of new buying pressure can push prices higher. That does not guarantee an immediate rally, but it increases the probability of a bounce. “

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XRP price has traded mostly flat over the past 24 hours and the past week. This sideways move shows clear market indecision. On the surface, institutional activity looks supportive. XRP spot ETFs have now recorded three straight weeks of inflows. But underneath this positive trend, a hidden weakness is quietly building.

Several technical and on-chain signals suggest XRP may be closer to a breakdown than it appears.

ETF Inflows Stay Positive, But Institutional Strength Is Rapidly Fading

XRP spot ETFs have recorded inflows for three straight weeks. The week ending February 6 saw $36.04 million in inflows. By the week ending February 20, inflows had fallen further to just $1.84 million.

This represents a drop of nearly 95% in weekly inflows within three weeks.

ETF inflows show how much institutional money is entering an asset. Rising inflows usually signal growing confidence. But falling inflows, even if still positive, show that institutional conviction is weakening quickly.

This institutional slowdown is already visible on the chart. XRP fell below its weekly Volume Weighted Average Price, or VWAP, on February 18 and hasn’t reclaimed the line since.

VWAP represents the average price weighted by volume. It is widely used as a proxy for institutional cost basis and is referred to by big money as a benchmark.

When the price falls below VWAP, it means institutions are holding positions at a loss on average. This often reduces their willingness to buy more. The last time XRP broke its weekly VWAP, it fell nearly 26%. The correction since February 18 is also continuing.

At the same time, XRP is close to forming a hidden bearish divergence between February 6 and February 20. During this period, the XRP price seems to be printing a lower high. But the Relative Strength Index, or RSI, already formed a higher high.

RSI measures momentum. When momentum rises, but price fails to follow, it signals weakening recovery strength and a possible downtrend extension for XRP if $1.379 breaks. A clear price-specific confirmation would occur if the current XRP price fails to reach or exceed $1.439.

Together, weakening ETF inflows, VWAP loss, and bearish divergence show that institutional strength is fading despite the positive ETF streak.

Exchange Flows and Dip Buying Explain Why Price Has Not Collapsed Yet

Despite falling below the VWAP, XRP has not collapsed sharply, like earlier. On-chain data helps explain why.

One key metric is Exchange Net Position Change. This tracks whether coins are moving into or out of exchanges. Outflows usually signal buying, while falling outflows show weakening demand.

On February 18, exchange outflows peaked near 71.32 million XRP. Recently, outflows dropped to around 41.69 million XRP. This marks a decline of about 41%.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

This shows that buying pressure has weakened significantly but still remains.

Another indicator shows buyers are still active. The Money Flow Index, or MFI, tracks real capital entering an asset. Between February 6 and February 19, the XRP price trended lower.

But MFI trended higher. This divergence shows dip buyers are slowly accumulating even as the price weakens.

This dip buying helps explain why XRP has remained relatively stable after losing its VWAP. Buyers are absorbing selling pressure. This has prevented an immediate collapse so far. But this support is limited. If dip buying weakens, downside risk could increase quickly.

XRP Price Faces Critical $1.25 Test as Cost Basis Cluster Becomes Final Support

Cost basis data now shows XRP approaching a critical support zone. Cost basis represents the prices at which investors previously bought XRP.

These levels often act as strong support or resistance. The most important support cluster currently sits near $1.26, hosting over 159 million XRP.

This is where a large number of holders bought XRP. As long as this level holds, the XRP price may avoid a deeper crash beyond 12% even if the immediate support zone at $1.35-$1.37 breaks.

However, if XRP falls below $1.26 ($1.259 on the chart), selling pressure could accelerate sharply. The next major downside levels would appear near $1.162 and $1.024.

On the upside, XRP must first reclaim $1.439. A stronger recovery would require moves above $1.476 and $1.549. Only a breakout above $1.670 would fully cut the bearish momentum.

For now, XRP remains stuck between weakening institutional support and steady dip buying. ETF inflows are still positive, but falling rapidly.

Technical and on-chain signals show that $1.259 is now the most important level that could determine XRP’s next major move, especially if the bearish divergence and VWAP weakness continue to play out.

February 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most defining months in crypto. The Sui price today is clinging to a critical support level, while the Ethereum price prediction remains divided as ETH struggles to break a wall it keeps running into. Both are waiting for their next catalyst.

But while established coins battle uncertainty, one project is rapidly building the kind of buzz that turns newcomers into the most popular cryptocurrency of the year. BlockDAG (BDAG)  just activated something that only 10,000 wallets in the entire world can access, and once those spots are gone, they are gone forever. With a confirmed global launch on March 4, the clock is already ticking. Here is everything investors need to know.

SUI: Sitting on a Ledge, Waiting for a Push

The Sui price today tells a story of a coin that hasn’t decided its next move yet. SUI is currently testing support near the $1.00 level, a zone that traders are watching very closely. The RSI indicator has dipped into oversold territory, which historically has preceded strong recoveries for this asset. Past cycles showed price expansions of over 500% and 800% from similar conditions, though past performance is never a guarantee of what comes next.

Among the most popular cryptocurrency choices, SUI just got a major vote of confidence; Grayscale launched a SUI-based ETF on the NYSE, bringing in traditional investors and easing selling pressure on the token. Still, traders are waiting for confirmation before calling it a reversal. If the $1.00 support holds and volume picks up, analysts are eyeing $2.00 as the next major target. Until then, the Sui price today remains in a wait-and-watch zone.

Ethereum: Caught Between a Support and a Resistance

The Ethereum price prediction debate right now is genuinely split down the middle. ETH has been trading between $1,850 and $1,900, repeatedly knocking on the $2,000 resistance and getting turned away every time. The longer it stays stuck here, the more it tests investor patience.

A bearish pennant has formed on the chart, and if the $1,850 support breaks, some analysts are pointing to as low as $1,136 as the next stop. That’s a painful drop from here. However, not everyone sees it that way. Among the most popular cryptocurrency names battling macro headwinds, ETH is also showing signs of quiet accumulation below $2,000, which some read as whales building positions before a breakout.

The Ethereum price prediction ultimately comes down to three things: Bitcoin’s next move, whether $1,850 holds, and whether whales step in with real conviction. For now, it’s a coin in a standoff.

BlockDAG: 10,000 Spots, One Code, and a Door That Closes Forever

There are moments in crypto that early buyers talk about for years, and right now, one of those moments is happening in BlockDAG. As one of the most popular cryptocurrency names, the project is doing something entirely different. The first 10,000 wallets that purchase BDAG using the code COINBASE will be locked in as the Coinbase First Access Group.

When BDAG lists on Coinbase, these wallets are intended to receive trading access ahead of general availability. No minimum purchase required. But the moment that the 10,000th wallet is filled, it closes permanently, no exceptions, no second chances.

That alone would be enough to turn heads. But the story behind BlockDAG makes it even harder to ignore. Before a single token ever hit a public exchange, BDAG raised $452 million in presale, one of the most remarkable fundraising runs in crypto history. The Mainnet is live. The Token Generation Event is done. This isn’t a project still figuring itself out; everything is built and ready.

The genesis price is currently $0.000125, with a confirmed Day 1 listing price of $0.05 when BDAG launches globally on March 4. That’s a potential 400x from today’s entry point.

When that door closes, it closes for good, and among the most popular cryptocurrency projects making noise right now, there won’t be another entry point like this one. Buyers are already rushing to secure their position before the 10,000 wallets are gone.

Final Thoughts

The Sui price today and the Ethereum price prediction both carry genuine long-term potential, but they also carry real uncertainty. SUI needs confirmation before any reversal is real, and Ethereum could drop significantly before it finds its footing. Patient, risk-tolerant investors may be rewarded eventually, but the road there won’t be smooth.

BlockDAG operates on a completely different timeline. The infrastructure is built, the launch date is set, and the genesis price is the last open door before global markets take over on March 4. For those searching for the next most popular cryptocurrency, BlockDAG’s 10,000-wallet Coinbase access group is filling fast, and buyers are already rushing before that door closes permanently.

Private Sale: https://purchase.blockdag.network

Website: https://blockdag.network

Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial

Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu

Disclaimer: This is a Press Release provided by a third party who is responsible for the content. Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content.

The price of bitcoin BTC$68,328.91 fell slightly on Saturday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an additional increase to global tariffs, despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision that invalidated earlier trade actions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

In a post on Truth Social, Trump called the court’s decision “anti-American” and declared that, effective immediately, he was raising the previously announced worldwide tariff to 15%.

“During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs,” the president added.

The price of bitcoin reacted quickly to the post, seeing an initial uptick of around 0.5% before losing nearly 1% of its value, reacting to the development. BTC is now trading at $68,000. Ether is down 0.45% since the announcement to $1,980.

The tariff hike comes just after the U.S. Supreme Court decided that Trump didn’t have the power to impose tariffs as he did earlier in the year. Reacting to that decision, Trump announced he was ordering a neew 10% global tariff, which is now being hiked to 15%.

Read more: U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Trump’s tariffs may not rock crypto — yet

The conclusion was derived from the 30-day MVRV of each of those altcoins (and bitcoin).

The cryptocurrency market is far from its best shape, with most assets trading 50% or more from their peaks recorded at some point last year. Some of the largest from this cohort, such as BTC, ETH, XRP, LINK, and ADA could provide proper entry opportunities at this point, but a few of them are believed to be more undervalued, according to data from Santiment.

Basing their findings on each asset’s Market Value to Realized Value (MVRV) metric, the analysts determined the following:

📊 According to the 30-day MVRV’s of crypto’s large caps, which identifies overvalued and undervalued assets based on average trader returns, here are where things stand:

Undervalued:
📌 Ethereum $ETH: -14.3%

Slightly Undervalued:
📌 Bitcoin $BTC: -6.9%
📌 Chainlink $LINK:… pic.twitter.com/Qu08RBaw1S

— Santiment (@santimentfeed) February 20, 2026

Ethereum stands out as the king of undervaluation, with -14.3%. The largest altcoin peaked last year at just under $5,000, which was inches above its previous all-time high. However, it has been mostly downhill since then, currently struggling to reclaim the $2,000 resistance.

This means that although its network capabilities have expanded, the underlying asset now trades 60% away from its peak.

Bitcoin was second in line, with an undervaluation score of -6.9%. The largest digital asset shot up to several new all-time highs last year, the latest being in early October of over $126,000. It now sits at $68,000 or 46% lower than its ATH.

LINK is third in Santiment’s ranking, with an undervaluation score of -5.1%. Chainlink’s native token was among the few that failed to mark new peaks in 2025. It trades at $8.88 as of press time, which puts it at a whopping 83% distance from its 2021 all-time high of $52.70.

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XRP and ADA complete Santiment’s top five, with percentages of -4.1% and -2.0%, respectively. XRP rocketed to a fresh peak of $3.65 in July last year, but now sits 60% lower at $1.45.

It’s worth noting that ADA is arguably the poorest performer from this list. It also couldn’t come anywhere near its 2021 all-time high of over $3.00 last year. Moreover, its current price tag of $0.28 puts it at a 91% discount since those levels from four and a half years ago.

BNP Paribas has launched a tokenized share class of a French-domiciled money market fund on the public Ethereum blockchain. The firm is the largest bank in Europe, with over $3 trillion in assets.

This marks another significant step in traditional finance’s gradual migration to distributed ledger technology.

Ethereum RWA Market Tops $15 Billion as BNP Paribas Joins Tokenization Push

The pilot project, executed through the bank’s AssetFoundry platform, allows BNP Paribas to test the integration of public blockchains into heavily regulated fund structures.

However, the bank is maintaining strict control over the digital assets.

The tokenized shares utilize a permissioned access model, meaning holdings and transfers are cryptographically restricted to a whitelist of authorized participants who meet stringent compliance standards.

“The initiative was conducted as a one‑off, limited intra‑group experiment, enabling BNP Paribas to test new end‑to‑end processes, from issuance and transfer agency to tokenisation and public blockchain connectivity, within a controlled and regulated framework,” the bank explained.

This walled-garden approach reflects a growing consensus among institutional asset managers. They clearly want to utilize the underlying settlement infrastructure of public networks like Ethereum.

However, these firms still demand the strict access controls inherent to traditional financial systems.

Notably, the initiative follows a previous BNP Paribas pilot that utilized a private blockchain in Luxembourg. This pivot signals a cautious institutional shift toward public networks to capture broader future interoperability.

Money market funds have emerged as the primary testing ground for Wall Street’s blockchain ambitions. For institutional investors, tokenizing these funds offers a regulated, yield-bearing alternative to fiat-backed stablecoins.

Furthermore, traditional fund processing relies on slow, batch-based settlement systems that can trap capital. Tokenization introduces the possibility of atomic, nearly instantaneous settlement, vastly improving capital efficiency.

“This second issuance of tokenized money market funds, this time using public blockchain infrastructure, supports our ongoing efforts to explore how tokenization can contribute to greater operational efficiency and security within a regulated framework,” Edouard Legrand, chief digital and data officer at BNP Paribas Asset Management, said in a statement.

Meanwhile, BNP Paribas joins a crowded field of incumbent heavyweights, including BlackRock, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Fidelity Investments, all of which have deployed tokenized money market funds on Ethereum.

According to Token Terminal data, Ethereum currently dominates the tokenized asset market, leading in stablecoins, commodities, and tokenized funds.

The total market capitalization of real-world assets on the Ethereum ecosystem, excluding stablecoins, recently surpassed $15 billion, up roughly 200% year over year.

The digital currency space is full of activity as top crypto gainers show fresh strength. Litecoin price today is hinting at a bounce over $56, with the $57 mark being a vital spot for the trend to keep moving up. Bitcoin Cash price stays firm around $559.70, keeping its main floor and showing a careful push from buyers.

Past these known names, BlockDAG (BDAG) is winning interest before its official start. With the Mainnet active and the TGE finished, people have already taken over 35,000 airdrops. The project is getting ready for a huge world release on exchanges in the USA and Europe on March 4th. Final Genesis coins are still open at $0.000125, making a fast path for those who want to join before the public markets take control.

With high interest before the start and a possible 400x listing jump, BlockDAG (BDAG) is showing up as a major path, ready to race against other top crypto gainers once the world trade begins.

Litecoin Price Today Points Toward a Positive Turn

Litecoin price today shows signs of moving up as a strong daily candle forms by the $56 floor. The $57 pivot point is very important for proving the short-term trend stays alive, and the Litecoin price today could find more strength if this spot is kept. Daily charts show that people are protecting the mid $50s, which suggests a careful move toward the green.

How it looks next to Bitcoin will guide the next steps for Litecoin, and moving over the downward line of lower highs could clear a way to $68. Main walls at $57 and $64 will set how fast any relief climb goes. Litecoin price today stays tight near its floor, showing a chance for a big move if those buying stay in charge. Small jumps on the short charts offer paths for quick trades.

Bitcoin Cash Price Stays on Floor and Seeks a Move Up

Bitcoin cash price is sitting at $559.70 after a week with small shifts. BCH has kept above the MA 20 ($535.41) but is still below the MA 50 ($579.75) and MA 200 ($561.20), which shows short term strength hitting long term walls. Weekly views show different signs: MACD and ADX show selling power, while RSI and the CCI look more neutral or positive.

The main floor is at the Ichimoku Kijun near $513.50, with a wall at the MA 50. It will likely stay between $513.50 and $561.00 this week. A jump over $561.00 could start a new climb, while a slide under the floor might lead to a quick dip. Bitcoin cash price stays tight near the moving lines, showing a careful positive stance as people watch for breaks or drops.

BDAG Hits 35,000 Airdrop Milestone Prior to Launch

The waiting period is finished and BDAG is truly set to join the open market. Since the Mainnet is active and the TGE is finished, the work has shifted from planning to real movement. World trading starts on March 4 through USA and European platforms, and a large list of extra CEX spots will be shared near the start date. The creation stage is over and the market stage is where the real speed begins.

Last Genesis coins are still out there at $0.000125, giving people a final opening to get ready before market trends take charge. More than 35,000 airdrop claims are already done, which proves there is high early interest. The smart plan for the rollout and the chance for a 400x listing jump have made things move faster for those wanting to get coins at the last set rate.

These points help turn BDAG into one of the top crypto gainers right now. Its mix of a planned world exchange start, active airdrops, and last pre-market rates makes a strong space for those who join early. When trading starts on March 4, the amount of coins, the need for them, and the speed will set the path, helping those who got in during this last opening.

Closing Summary

The digital coin space is showing careful hope as the Litecoin price today stays firm over $56, which hints at possible quick wins, while the Bitcoin Cash price stays close to $559.70, keeping its base but meeting some push back.

Both of these coins show steady speed among top crypto gainers, but those watching the market stay careful about key points for proof. At the same time, BlockDAG (BDAG) is setting itself up as a big new name. With its Mainnet running, 35,000 airdrops taken, and a last Genesis rate of $0.000125, the work is set for a big March 4th start in the USA and Europe.

As world trading and DEX entry start, the smart exchange plan and high early need for BDAG show a strong chance for quick market results, giving a high growth path next to known coins.

Website: https://blockdag.network

Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial

Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu

Disclaimer: This is a Press Release provided by a third party who is responsible for the content. Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde is set to step down sometime before the next French presidential election, a timeline that market observers say could influence how Europe steers crypto policy and digital money initiatives. Lagarde’s tenure saw the EU push forward on the Markets in Crypto Assets regime, known as MiCA, and launch work on a digital euro designed to complement the bloc’s payments ecosystem. Yet policy gaps remain: DeFi remains خارج the regulatory scope of MiCA, and the final shape of the digital euro is still under debate. As observers weigh potential successors, questions arise about whether Europe’s cautious stance on crypto will endure or shift under new leadership.

Key takeaways

• Lagarde’s looming departure timing could affect the tempo and tone of Europe’s crypto regulation, including MiCA’s implementation and post- MiCA adjustments.
• MiCA has advanced but currently does not regulate decentralized finance (DeFi); policy gaps persist even as the bloc pursues a comprehensive framework for crypto assets.
• The digital euro project has progressed from investigation to preparation for issuance, reflecting Europe’s bid to offer a secure, Europe-based digital money option while addressing privacy and offline operation concerns.
• European officials continue to advocate for strict stablecoin regulation and global standards, emphasizing safeguards and equivalence with foreign issuers to prevent systemic risks.
• Potential successors to Lagarde, such as Pablo Hernández de Cos and Klaas Knot, are expected to uphold a prudent regulatory posture toward crypto, signaling continuity rather than a dramatic policy pivot.

Sentiment: Neutral

Market context: The EU has moved ahead on a crypto framework with MiCA, while the digital euro program marches through defined phases. Investigation into the digital euro began in October 2021, and in October 2025 the ECB signaled it would begin preparation for issuance. The policy path sits within a broader global debate about stablecoins, cross-border payments, and central bank digital currencies as regulators weigh consumer protection, financial stability, and monetary sovereignty against innovation.

Why it matters

The trajectory of European crypto policy matters for users, investors, and developers alike. MiCA’s existence signals a long-awaited regulatory foothold for digital assets in a major economy, a framework that aims to reduce regulatory ambiguity while anchoring crypto markets in a single, coherent set of rules across 27 member states. Lagarde’s skepticism toward crypto—captured most famously in a 2022 remark where she described crypto as “worth nothing” for its lack of intrinsic backing—set a cautious tone. Even as the ECB advised, observed, and offered comments during the MiCA process, the central bank’s stance remained one of measured restraint rather than open endorsement.

“It is based on nothing … There is no underlying asset to act as an anchor of safety.”

That posture has shaped how Europe approaches crypto policy, emphasizing the need for robust consumer protections and safeguards against investor misperceptions. Even as MiCA became law, Lagarde continued to push for international alignment on stablecoins and for safeguards that would prevent the kind of market stress seen in times of stablecoin runs. In 2025, she urged lawmakers to ensure that stablecoins operate within a framework that includes robust equivalence regimes and safeguards governing transfers between the EU and non-EU entities. The aim is not merely domestic regulation but a coordinated, cross-border standard that could reduce regulatory arbitrage and systemic risk.

Beyond MiCA, the digital euro represents a strategic bet on Europe’s monetary sovereignty in a digital era. The project has long faced criticism over privacy, offline operability, and the central bank’s ability to monitor or control spending. The ECB has defended the digital euro as privacy-protective and cash-like in its benefits, while acknowledging the need to adapt payment systems to a digital economy. The move to prepare for issuance in 2025-2026 reflects a belief that a European-issued digital cash tool could reduce costs for merchants, improve resilience in payment networks, and provide a platform for private-sector financial innovation to scale within a regulated environment.

Public remarks from Lagarde and her colleagues signal a cautious but constructive approach to the digital euro. ECB executive board member Piero Cipollone emphasized that the digital euro would preserve the advantages of cash while reinforcing the resilience of Europe’s payments landscape. The project is framed as a response to consumer demand for digital options, articulated by Lagarde as early as 2021 when she acknowledged an appetite for digital currencies if backed by secure, European infrastructure. The emphasis has consistently been on a solution that is secure, accessible, and fit for the future—without compromising financial stability or privacy.

As Europe debates the digital euro and a more comprehensive crypto framework, the identity of Lagarde’s successor could influence the emphasis placed on crypto innovation versus caution. The field remains skeptical about rapid, unbridled adoption, and the leading candidates discussed in financial circles—Pablo Hernández de Cos, former Spanish central bank governor, and Klaas Knot, former Dutch central bank governor—bring a similar prudential lens to crypto policy. Hernández de Cos, for example, warned that crypto assets can pose “highly significant risks that are hard to understand and measure,” calling for a robust regulatory transition from fiction to a more orderly framework. Knot, too, has been measured, recognizing potential benefits of blockchain while insisting on the primacy of stability and supervisory oversight.

The EU’s measured pace has been noted in contrast to the regulatory maturation observed in the United States and other jurisdictions. While the region’s path may appear deliberate, it has produced a comprehensive framework that integrates monetary policy considerations, payments regulation, and financial stability concerns. The collaboration between the ECB, European Parliament, and member states has yielded a crypto policy architecture that aspires to be risk-aware, globally harmonized, and technologically forward-looking without giving up the core public interest in stable and interoperable financial systems. In parallel, the ongoing dialogue around stablecoins—balancing innovation with safeguards—reflects a broader global debate about how to reconcile private money issuance with public monetary policy and consumer protections.

Ultimately, the leadership transition at the ECB arrives at a moment when Europe is weighing how far to push centralizing control versus encouraging private-sector innovation in digital money. Lagarde’s legacy will be judged, in part, by how seamlessly MiCA’s, and the digital euro’s, developments continue under a new president. The fact that the EU proceeded with a regulated framework—rather than a laissez-faire path—before some other major jurisdictions illustrates a distinctive approach: prioritizing a well-defined supervisory environment that can accommodate innovation while reducing systemic risk.

As these conversations unfold, market participants will be watching for explicit signals on how a new ECB president will balance the competing imperatives of financial stability, monetary policy autonomy, and the potential for Europe to become a hub for compliant crypto activity. The coming months are likely to see tighter discussions around DeFi and cross-border payments, the refinement of MiCA provisions, and continued debates about the digital euro’s privacy guarantees and offline capabilities. The overarching narrative remains: Europe intends to shape, not simply follow, the global trajectory of digital money, with leadership choices that will echo through regulatory decisions, technology deployments, and the ongoing evolution of the crypto economy.

What to watch next

• The selection process for a new ECB president—and whether Paris signals its preferred candidate—may influence the tone toward crypto policy and MiCA adjustments.
• Key milestones in MiCA implementation, including any refinement of DeFi provisions or updates to stablecoin regulations.
• Further communications from the ECB about the digital euro timeline, privacy safeguards, and offline functionality tests.
• Continued international coordination on crypto standards, including discussions around equivalence regimes for foreign issuers.
• Public speeches or BIS remarks from potential successors outlining their views on crypto regulation and financial stability.

Sources & verification

• ECB public statements and press materials on MiCA and the digital euro rollout timeline.
• Reuters coverage of Lagarde’s potential departure and the names of frontrunners to replace her.
• BIS remarks and speeches by Pablo Hernández de Cos and Klaas Knot addressing crypto risks and regulatory frameworks.
• Reports on Europe’s plan to close stablecoin loopholes and to align international standards, as referenced in contemporary coverage.

ECB leadership transition and Europe’s crypto policy trajectory

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde is nearing the end of her tenure, with her exit anticipated before the next French presidential election. Her time at the helm has been marked by decisive moves to formalize Europe’s crypto regime through MiCA and to advance the digital euro initiative, a bid to provide a secure, European-based digital alternative to cash. In public remarks and behind-the-scenes deliberations, Lagarde has consistently urged a cautious, tightly regulated approach to crypto, underscoring the need to protect investors and preserve financial stability while still enabling innovation within a well-defined framework.

Her most public stance on crypto crystallized in a 2022 interview in which she described crypto as “worth nothing,” a sentiment anchored in the perception that many digital assets lack intrinsic value or a reliable anchor. The accompanying skepticism was not merely rhetorical; it shaped the ECB’s approach to MiCA as a mechanism to bring order to a volatile landscape. Lagarde and her colleagues argued that regulation should be robust enough to reduce risk, while not stifling legitimate use cases that could emerge from compliant, Europe-based crypto activity. The ECB did not legislate, but it played a central advisory and supervisory role, shaping the contours of MiCA through ongoing dialogue with lawmakers and industry participants.

As MiCA moved toward final enactment, Lagarde also pressed for international cooperation on stablecoins and cross-border standards. She warned that European legislation must deter the operation of stablecoin schemes without robust equivalence regimes and safeguards for transfers between the EU and non-EU entities. The aim was to prevent regulatory arbitrage and ensure that Europe remains part of a global financial system that is resilient to the rapid evolution of digital money. A recurring theme across her public statements has been the imperative to protect the public interest and avoid a future where private-sector control of a money-like instrument could undermine monetary sovereignty.

The digital euro remains at the heart of Europe’s forward-looking money agenda. The project has faced criticism—particularly around privacy, offline operability, and the potential surveillance capabilities of digital cash. Yet the ECB has consistently asserted that the digital euro would be privacy-preserving and would replicate, in digital form, the advantages of cash. The bank has argued that such a currency could enhance payment resilience, reduce merchant costs, and provide a platform for private-sector innovation to flourish within a safe, regulated framework. The October 2025 decision to begin preparation for issuance signaled a concrete step toward realizing these ambitions, even as the detailed design and governance structures continue to be debated among policymakers.

Under discussion are also the personalities who might succeed Lagarde. The Financial Times has highlighted Pablo Hernández de Cos and Klaas Knot as prominent contenders, each with a record of cautious, risk-aware governance. Hernández de Cos, speaking at BIS events in 2022, warned of crypto’s potential risks and urged a transition from fiction to a more orderly, regulated ecosystem. Knot has similarly urged prudence, acknowledging potential benefits of distributed ledger technologies but emphasizing the need to preserve financial stability and maintain robust supervisory oversight. If Paris signals a preferred candidate, it could reinforce a policy posture that favors measured innovation with a strong emphasis on consumer protection and systemic resilience.

Ultimately, Europe’s crypto policy course appears to favor a steady, standards-driven path. While critics may argue that the approach stifles innovation, supporters contend that a predictable, well-regulated environment is essential for sustainable growth in digital money markets. The EU’s progress—often completed with more deliberation than in other regions—reflects a willingness to balance the benefits of financial innovation with the need to maintain trust in the financial system. As the leadership transition unfolds, market participants will be watching not only who rises to the ECB presidency but how new leadership weighs MiCA updates, the digital euro’s rollout, and Europe’s role in shaping global standards for crypto and digital payments. The coming months will reveal whether Europe can sustain its measured but forward-looking approach in a rapidly changing crypto landscape.