France’s far-right Rassemblement National (RN) has proposed using surplus nuclear energy to mine Bitcoin-a move that is dramatically contradictory to Marine Le Pen's 2016 promise to ban virtual currencies.
According to local media, RN’s bold new initiative would leverage unused capacity at state-owned EDF nuclear power stations to install mining operations, turning excess electricity into digital gold.
Le Pen unveiled the proposal during a visit to the Flamanville nuclear facility, asserting that monetizing surplus energy through Bitcoin mining could provide significant economic benefits while reducing waste.
RN lawmaker Aurélien Lopez-Liguori is spearheading legislation to support this vision, describing Bitcoin mining with nuclear energy as both “secure and extremely profitable,” standing in stark contrast to the Green Party’s focus on limiting energy production.
This political pivot occurs amidst a spike in violence targeting France’s cryptocurrency industry, including high-profile kidnapping attempts involving the families of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat and Ledger co-founder David Balland.
These incidents has driven many crypto executives to cry for stronger measures and stricter laws enforcements that would protect them.
The shift marks a strategic U-turn for the RN, which has maintained fluid and sometimes contradictory positions on cryptocurrencies over the past decade.
Back in 2016, Le Pen derided Bitcoin as a creation of the “Wall Street investment banking lobby,” vowing to ban its use entirely.
By 2022, the party moderated its stance to regulate rather than outlaw crypto—a position that has now evolved into full-scale advocacy.
Despite growing support within RN, internal opposition continues. Jean-Philippe Tanguy, RN’s finance specialist and a key National Assembly figure, has cautioned that moving towards currency independence risks undermining France’s control over monetary policy—a direct challenge to Bitcoin’s ethos of decentralization.
Nonetheless, some RN officials are exploring avenues such as allocating Bitcoin exposure within a planned sovereign wealth fund, signaling the party’s growing acceptance of digital assets.
The climate of physical danger facing French crypto leaders is unprecedented, with Paris prosecutors recently charging 25 suspects, including groups who posed as delivery drivers to attempt kidnappings and extort ransoms as high as €7 million.
These extreme events have triggered public debates about state capacity, immigration, and law enforcement, often amplified by far-right media figures.
Notably, Ledger founder Eric Larchevêque after his abduction, has voiced support for the policies of leaders like Donald Trump and Musk, calling for Europe to "take out the chainsaw" like Argentina's Javier Milei.
Meanwhile, the violence has reached a global scope, with crypto-related kidnappings and extortion attempts reported in Argentina, Canada, the US, and the UK, though France stands out for the severity and frequency of attacks on entrepreneurs’ families.
RN’s prominent pivot into pro-crypto territory capitalizes on the absence of French left-wing parties in meaningful blockchain policy debates, which remain focused on environmental and regulatory risks.
Still, significant obstacles remain for the RN’s nuclear-powered mining ambitions. France’s strict regulatory environment necessitates extensive consultation with financial authorities, exchanges, and stakeholders before implementation.
As of now, the party has not initiated required reviews for crypto asset market integration, and the success of their initiative will ultimately depend on overcoming the country’s historically conservative stance toward digital assets.
Ethereum is capturing market attention once again, with analysts widely forecasting a major breakout that could send ETH soaring to the $5,000 level and beyond.
XingChiBakkt is acquiring nearly 30% of a Japanese textile company to transform it into a bitcoin-focused business called bitcoin.jp. The company aims to integrate digital assets into its operations and corporate treasury.
WeatherlyThe Satoshi Nakamoto statue in Lugano was taken from its spot in the park and later found broken in Lake Lugano, showing it was vandalised rather than simply stolen. Despite the damage, the local community and supporters remain committed to celebrating Bitcoin’s creator and the ideas the statue represents.
AnaisA false rumour on social media claimed China had banned crypto again, causing brief market panic. Officials and experts confirmed no new rules were issued, and the 2021 restrictions still apply.
WeatherlyFigma’s share price jumped 250% on its NYSE debut, closing at $115 and rising further after hours. The company also revealed it had put nearly $100 million into Bitcoin and stablecoins as part of its treasury plan.
Weatherly
Jason RiggsStrategy reported a $10 billion profit in Q2, driven by Bitcoin gains and new fair value accounting rules. It raised over $10.5 billion through stock sales and used most of it to buy more Bitcoin, pushing its holdings above 628,000 BTC.
AnaisBitmain, the world’s leading Bitcoin mining ASIC manufacturer, is preparing to open its first manufacturing facility in the United States—a strategic move set to accelerate production and support for American clients.
XingChiMarti, a Turkish ride-hailing company, has put 20% of its cash into Bitcoin and plans to increase that to 50%. The move is part of a long-term plan to use crypto as a store of value while keeping its main business growing.
AnaisAnt Group has launched "Zhixiaobao," an AI-powered life assistant app that integrates various services like payments, ordering, and booking through Alipay. This move reflects Ant’s shift towards AI-driven solutions after facing regulatory challenges and a significant fine in 2023.
WeatherlyMagic Eden has launched two distinct domains, magiceden.us for US users and magiceden.io for international users, to cater to regional needs and regulations. Despite a market downturn, Magic Eden remains a leading NFT marketplace with a $122.47 million trading volume in August 2024, holding a 36.7% market share.
AnaisWith deepfakes rising in generative AI, YouTube plans to introduce two tools to protect creators' intellectual property. While the details of these tools are promising, the platform has yet to disclose their official release dates.
CatherineAt the 2024 Shanghai Bund Conference, Ant Financial announced its business progress and strategic layout for the first time after its independence. Its chief scientist Yan Ying said that the Web3 industry has entered a new stage of asset integration.
AlexTRON's Dave Uhryniak highlights the cultural and artistic impact of memecoins at Korea Blockchain Week, introducing SunPump as a new platform for creating and trading meme coins.
MiyukiMichael Smith faces federal charges for defrauding streaming platforms by using AI to create fake songs and bots to generate billions of streams, leading to $10 million in illicit royalties. His scheme involved setting up thousands of fake accounts and using custom software to stream his music, making it appear as though many unique listeners were tuning in.
AnaisAlexAlexChatGPT's latest macOS update finally brings the "Memory" feature to Europe and South Korea, allowing users to save preferences and personal information for more personalised responses. By remembering details like preferred formats and past interactions, could this elevate personalisation even further?
CatherineElon Musk plans to establish a human city on Mars within 20 years, starting with uncrewed missions in 2026 and a crewed mission two years later. But will this interplanetary dream become reality or remain an unattainable utopia?
Kikyo