France Poised to Become Europe’s Bitcoin Pioneer: Jan3’s Mow Predicts Nation-State Adoption Wave

Move over, El Salvador—France might just be Bitcoin's next nation-state evangelist.

Samson Mow of Jan3 drops a bullish prediction: The Hexagon could trigger a domino effect of sovereign Bitcoin adoption across Europe. No vague promises here—just a clear-eyed take on geopolitics meeting sound money.

Why France? Three words: Regulatory agility, nuclear energy, and that famous Gallic contrarian streak. While Germany dithers with MiCA compliance, France's Macron has quietly greenlit crypto innovation hubs since 2023.

The energy angle: With 56 reactors powering 70% of its grid, France offers the holy trinity for Bitcoin miners—cheap, clean, stable electricity. Take that, Texas blackouts.

The cynic's addendum: Of course this drops days after BNP Paribas launched its 'blockchain innovation lab'—bankers love a bandwagon, especially when they're 10 years late to the party.

One thing's certain: When the next sovereign Bitcoin buyer emerges, don't expect them to speak Spanish. Vive la révolution.

Pro-Bitcoin EU Lawmaker Knafo Echoes Support for Nation-State Adoption

Knafo, a member of the European Parliament with openly pro-Bitcoin views, echoed the enthusiasm.

“France must take hold of these issues,” she wrote on X. She described Mow as “an expert on Bitcoin adoption by states, who has advised the President of El Salvador and many others.”

Mow left Blockstream in 2022 to focus on helping governments integrate Bitcoin into their financial strategies.

Excellentes discussions avec @Excellion, expert de l’adoption de Bitcoin par les États, qui a conseillé le Président du Salvador et tant d’autres. La France doit s’emparer de ces enjeux.#BTCPrague pic.twitter.com/fbgYZXrWkX

Knafo also met with Michael Saylor, executive chairman of MicroStrategy, calling him “visionary and ambitious.”

She hinted at more developments ahead, saying, “We will soon have many projects for France and Europe.”

France is already taking steps in both public and private sectors. On June 3, Paris-based Blockchain Group announced the purchase of 624 BTC for €60.2 million, bringing its total holdings to 1,471 BTC.

In March, state-owned bank Bpifrance allocated €25 million to crypto-related investments.

Still, Europe faces criticism for its slow pace. While the EU’s MiCA framework was fully enforced in December 2024, critics argue it lacks clarity on Bitcoin’s role in state treasuries.

Coinbase and Gemini Push Deeper into EU

Last week, it was reported that Coinbase and Gemini are expanding their European operations by securing regulatory licenses in Luxembourg and Malta, respectively.

Gemini, led by the Winklevoss twins, is close to finalizing its license in Malta after receiving a MiFID II license from the country’s Financial Services Authority last month.

Malta has already licensed exchanges like OKX and Crypto.com under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework.

However, some EU regulators are concerned about the speed of approvals in smaller nations with limited staff.

Malta’s FSA defended its pace, citing years of experience and strong anti-money laundering standards.

Meanwhile, Coinbase is set to receive a license from Luxembourg, where crypto firms have been labeled “high-risk” for money laundering.

Coinbase has over 200 employees in Europe and plans to hire at least 20 more.