France Eyes $150M Bitcoin Mining Windfall—Could This Be Europe’s Crypto Cash Cow?
French legislators are betting big on Bitcoin mining—and the numbers don’t lie. With a potential $150M annual revenue boost, the country’s crypto ambitions are heating up faster than a mining rig at full throttle.
From Baguettes to Blockchain
Move over, wine and cheese. France is carving out a new niche in its economy—digital gold. Lawmakers see Bitcoin mining as a fiscal lifeline, one that could inject serious cash into state coffers without the mess of traditional tax hikes.
The Mining Math
At $150M per year, the proposal would make France a contender in Europe’s crypto infrastructure race. Skeptics whisper about energy costs, but proponents counter with nuclear-powered efficiency—because nothing says ‘sustainable mining’ like 70% atomic energy.
A Cynic’s Footnote
Of course, if history repeats, the real winners will be the usual suspects: energy conglomerates and tax consultants. But hey—at least it’s not another bailout.
Benefits of Bitcoin mining
To solve this challenge, the French lawmakers are pushing for Bitcoin mining centers to be co-located with nuclear production facilities.
These centers would only activate when there’s excess energy, offering a real-time, flexible method for grid stabilization without affecting consumer supply.
According to them:
“Existing infrastructure, currently underutilized or closed, could accommodate this new infrastructure. Abroad, some former factories or decommissioned power plants have already been transformed into mining farms operating on carbon-free electricity.”
Meanwhile, the legislation highlighted the secondary benefits of Bitcoin mining activities, including heat recovery. The lawmakers noted that the mining rigs can generate significant heat, which can be redirected to district heating systems, greenhouses, or industrial operations.
They also highlighted examples from countries like Finland, where Bitcoin mining heat is used to support agriculture and sustainable infrastructure.
If approved, the pilot would begin immediately and last roughly five years, with oversight from the French Council of State. After six months, a full evaluation report would assess the feasibility of broader adoption.
Meanwhile, this effort places France among a growing group of countries, such as Pakistan, Belarus, and Texas in the US, that are exploring Bitcoin mining as a strategic response to electricity oversupply.
