Europe

Hungary has enacted sweeping new legislation where both unlicensed crypto exchanges and users of such exchanges could potentially face prison time.

Major cryptocurrency exchange Bybit has landed on the grounds of Georgia, making it the first exchange to have a full license to offer digital assets trading to local investors.

Speaking at a central banking conference in Sintra, Portugal, Lagarde emphasized that stablecoins have the potential to erode the authority of central banks and blur the lines between private and public money.

Lee Soo-man met French President Emmanuel Macron after giving a speech at the France Music Week Summit in Paris. Macron asked him to set up an A2O office in France to boost cultural ties and support creators in the age of AI.

China is actively seeking to challenge the dominance of the US dollar as the world’s primary reserve currency, with a strategic push to extend the digital yuan’s role in both domestic transactions and cross-border payments.

French police have charged 25 young people over a series of attempted kidnappings targeting crypto executives and their families. Several attacks were linked, with suspects aiming to steal wallet details through threats and violence.

Paris Saint-Germain became the first major sports club to hold Bitcoin in its treasury, converting part of its cash reserves in 2024. The announcement boosted the PSG Fan Token price and reflects the club’s focus on digital finance for its young global audience.

Crypto.com has obtained a MiFID license to offer crypto derivatives across the EEA, building on its MiCA registration and reinforcing its push into regulated European markets.

Kraken has launched Europe’s largest regulated crypto derivatives platform, following its MiFID license acquisition via a Cyprus-based firm. The move boosts its EU reach and meets growing institutional demand for compliant digital assets.

Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, has overtaken Hong Kong and Singapore to become the world’s most crypto-friendly city. How did this low-profile European hub outpace the industry’s giants?