Europe’s Regulatory Hurdles Stifle Stablecoin Innovation, Says Monerium Co-founder

Europe’s stringent regulatory approach to digital assets, particularly stablecoins, is undermining its own economic potential. Sveinn Valfells, co-founder of blockchain payment firm Monerium, echoes Mario Draghi’s criticism of EU policies that impose ’tariffs on innovation’ in the digital services sector.

Stablecoins—blockchain-based tokens pegged to fiat currencies like the euro or dollar—represent a transformative leap in fintech. These programmable assets enable near-instant, low-cost peer-to-peer transactions, powering everything from cross-border payments to automated financial instruments. Their efficiency could significantly boost GDP growth if adopted widely.

Yet the EU’s regulatory framework treats these digital money instruments as threats rather than opportunities. This contrasts sharply with their rapid adoption in global markets, where stablecoins are becoming the backbone of decentralized finance applications and institutional settlement systems.