Europe has taken a significant step in its ambition to reduce the reliance on U.S. dollar-based stablecoins. The Franco-German banking group ODDO BHF has launched EUROD, a new euro-backed digital currency, under the region's stringent Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework.
ODDO BHF is acting as the direct issuer of EUROD, ensuring full regulatory compliance from its inception, a model that contrasts with reliance on external crypto issuers. The bank stated its goal is to offer a "European alternative" to the dollar-denominated stablecoins that currently dominate the global market.
The project is backed by established crypto infrastructure partners:
EUROD will first debut on Spain’s Bit2Me exchange before expanding across other European trading platforms.
This launch is part of a growing movement by European financial institutions to reclaim control over digital payment infrastructure. ODDO BHF joins other major players, such as Société Générale and the alliance behind AllUnity’s EURAU, in pushing euro stablecoins into the market.
European regulators have strongly advocated for domestic solutions. ECB President Christine Lagarde has repeatedly warned that foreign stablecoins could undermine the euro's influence. By creating MiCA-compliant tokens like EUROD, the region aims to bridge the world of regulated banking with the efficiency of programmable, blockchain-based money.
The launch is timed to fill a crucial gap while the digital euro (a central bank digital currency) remains several years away. Europe's swift move to roll out compliant euro stablecoins signals a clear determination to lead, not lag, in the global digital asset revolution.
October 2025, Cryptoniteuae