Crypto
Lagarde Blocks Euro Stablecoin Push, Calls $300B Market a Stability Risk for ECB Policy
Key Takeaways
- ECB President Lagarde called euro-denominated stablecoins a financial stability risk on May 8, 2026.
- Lagarde mentioned that USDC depegged to $0.877 during SVB’s 2023 collapse, exposing $3.3 billion in Circle reserves.
- The ECB’s Pontes project launches in September 2026 to anchor DLT settlement in central bank money.
Lagarde Warns European Banks That Euro Stablecoins Could Narrow ECB Rate Channel
Lagarde delivered her remarks at the Banco de España Latam Economic Forum in Roda de Bará, Spain. The speech, titled “ Stablecoins and the future of money: separating functions from instruments,” came as the global stablecoin market has grown from under $10 billion six years ago to more than $300 billion today.
“The case for promoting euro-denominated stablecoins is far weaker than it appears,” Lagarde remarked.
The market remains heavily dollar-dominated, with nearly 98% of stablecoins pegged to the U.S. dollar. Tether and Circle control a massive share of that market. The U.S. GENIUS Act, currently advancing through Congress, explicitly frames stablecoin expansion as a tool to cement the dollar’s global dominance and sustain demand for U.S. Treasuries.
Lagarde acknowledged that euro stablecoins operating under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR), which took effect in 2024, could generate additional demand for euro-area safe assets, compress sovereign yields, and extend the euro’s international reach. She did not dismiss those potential gains outright.
But she argued that two risks make the trade-off unfavorable. The first is financial stability. Stablecoins are private liabilities whose backing can come under sudden pressure during periods of stress. She highlighted that when Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapsed in March 2023, Circle disclosed that $3.3 billion of USDC’s reserves were held there. During that window, Lagarde said, USDC briefly traded at $0.877, more than 12 cents below its $1 peg.
“These trade-offs outweigh the short-term gains in financing conditions and international reach that euro-denominated stablecoins might provide,” Lagarde stated during her speech.
The second concern is monetary policy transmission, she explained. In the euro area, banks remain the primary channel through which ECB interest rate decisions reach firms and households. If retail deposits migrate into non-bank stablecoins and return to banks as more expensive wholesale funding, that channel narrows. ECB research published in March 2026 (Working Paper No. 3199) found that large-scale deposit substitution would weaken bank lending and monetary policy pass-through, an effect the paper noted is more pronounced in bank-heavy economies like Europe than in the U.S.
Lagarde’s position puts her at odds with Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel, also an ECB Governing Council member. In a Feb. 16, 2026, keynote at the New Year’s Reception of AmCham Germany, Nagel expressed support for the instruments. “I also see merit in euro-denominated stablecoins, as they can be used for cross-border payments by individuals and firms at low cost,” Nagel explained.
The divergence reflects a broader internal debate within the Eurosystem over how to respond to dollar stablecoin dominance and the risk of what Lagarde called “digital dollarisation.”
Rather than match U.S. stablecoin policy, Lagarde pointed to the Eurosystem’s own infrastructure plans. The Pontes project, launching in September 2026, will link distributed ledger platforms to TARGET, the ECB’s existing settlement system, allowing DLT-based transactions to settle in central bank money. The Appia roadmap, published in March 2026, sets a path to a fully interoperable European tokenized financial ecosystem by 2028.
“Our task is not to replicate instruments developed elsewhere, but to build the foundations and the infrastructure that serve our own objectives, so that we can harness the benefits of innovation without importing the fragilities,” Lagarde said.
European banks and payment firms that have already begun preparing regulated euro stablecoin products under MiCAR may now face added scrutiny as the ECB signals it prefers central bank-anchored solutions over private alternatives.
Crypto
Bitdeer Invests $36 Million in First US Sealminer Factory as Bitcoin Mining Margins Stay Tight
Key Takeaways
- Bitdeer is building a $36M Nevada plant to produce 10,000 Sealminer units monthly by 2026.
- Sealminer efficiency targets weak mining margins as hashprice stays near historic lows.
- Bitdeer is expanding U.S. manufacturing and AI infrastructure to strengthen long-term growth.
Bitdeer Targets 10,000 Monthly Sealminer Units With New $36 Million Nevada Factory
Bitdeer is moving ahead with a major U.S. manufacturing push, breaking ground on a $36 million advanced electronics facility in Sparks, Nevada, even as bitcoin mining economics remain near historic lows.
The 187,000-square-foot plant will be the company’s first domestic manufacturing and assembly site in the U.S. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and is designed to produce 10,000 Sealminer units per month.
Bitdeer said the project will create about 70 local jobs across engineering, skilled technician and support roles. The facility will expand the company’s U.S. footprint beyond mining and data centers, adding a domestic production base for its proprietary mining machines.
“Producing our advanced Sealminer units right here in Nevada reflects our long-term commitment to building capacity and nurturing the talent necessary to support our growing digital infrastructure operations in America,” remarked Paul Hanson, Chairman of Bitdeer Industrial.
Vertical Integration During a Mining Slump
The timing is notable. Bitcoin miners are still dealing with weak hashprice, a key measure of mining revenue per unit of computing power.
Spot hashprice was recently around $29.81 per PH/s/day, after touching a daily low of $27.89 on Feb. 24. March also marked a record-low monthly average of $31.27, according to industry data.
The pressure reflects several factors: the April 2024 halving, rising network hashrate, and low transaction-fee revenue. Together, they have reduced revenue for miners using the same amount of computing power.
At these levels, profitability is increasingly concentrated among operators with cheap power and newer, more efficient machines.
Bitdeer is trying to address that pressure through vertical integration. The company has been developing its own Sealminer hardware and deploying the machines across its self-mining fleet.
Catherine Guo, CEO of Bitdeer Industrial, commented that the Sparks plant reflects the company’s contribution to Nevada’s diversifying economy.
“Our commitment underscores the state’s strategic advantages, including a highly accessible and skilled workforce, robust logistics networks, and a consistently business-friendly environment,” Guo said.
U.S. Expansion Meets AI Demand
The Nevada facility will complement Bitdeer’s existing U.S. data centers and its innovation hub in San Jose, California.
The project also comes as Bitdeer expands across mining and AI infrastructure. In its May operating update, the company reported 70.2 EH/s of self-mining hashrate, 921 bitcoin mined during the month, and about $69 million of annualized recurring revenue from its AI Cloud business.
Bitdeer also said it was in advanced talks with a potential colocation tenant at its Tydal, Norway site. That follows a broader industry trend in which miners are exploring AI and high-performance computing uses for power-rich data center assets.
The facility is expected to begin contributing to Bitdeer’s manufacturing capacity as the mining hardware market becomes more selective. Weak hashprice can slow equipment demand, but it can also push well-capitalized miners to replace older machines with more efficient models.
Crypto
British Airline Jet2 Shares Jump 9% After $536M Fuel Hedge Gain Offsets Middle East Travel Fears
Key Takeaways
- Jet2 recorded a $536 million balance sheet windfall on July 8 after locking in low-cost fuel derivatives.
- The Middle East conflict triggered a 67% decline in annual cash inflows as travelers delayed holiday bookings.
- CEO Steve Heapy announced a $335 million buyback program and expanding operations at London Gatwick Airport.
Sector Resilience Amid Fuel Volatility
British airline and package holiday provider Jet2 defied intense geopolitical instability and travel sector panic triggered by the Middle East war by reporting a more than $500 million balance sheet boost, fueled by the rising price of jet fuel.
As the conflict in the Middle East escalated, spiking fuel rates caused the value of the company’s fuel derivatives to soar. According to Jet2’s full financial results released July 8, an extra $536 million in income was primarily driven by these favorable fair value movements.
The financial buffer comes after widespread fears earlier this year that rising energy costs could push airlines into bankruptcy and force massive summer holiday cancellations. In the United States, higher fuel prices contributed to the collapse of low-budget airline Spirit in May. The United Kingdom had been labeled as the nation “most exposed” to the jet fuel crisis, forcing government ministers to scramble to protect airline fuel access and temporarily suspend airport capacity rules.
While Jet2 was able to mitigate the price shock, the broader conflict still took a toll on booking behaviors. The airline conceded that ongoing travel uncertainty from the war caused holidaymakers to delay their trips and book much closer to their departure dates than usual. As a result, Jet2’s cash inflow plummeted by 67% to approximately $103 million for the fiscal year ending March 31.
Financially, Jet2 reported mixed full-year results. Group revenue climbed 4% to $10.05 billion, but pre-tax profit slipped 7% to $738.6 million, hit hard by lower income earned on its cash deposits.
Despite the profit dip, operational metrics showed strong consumer demand. Jet2 increased its total seat capacity by 8% to 24 million and flew 20.8 million passengers — a 5% increase year-over-year. The company also announced a new $335 million share buyback program, pointing to robust liquidity and confidence in its midterm outlook.
On the stock market, shares of the AIM-listed company jumped 9% to $19.92 at Wednesday’s opening bell, leaving the stock up 5% for the year.
Chief Executive Issues Tax Warning
The financial report coincided with an aggressive political warning from Jet2 Chief Executive Steve Heapy. Speaking to shareholders, Heapy cautioned political figures — specifically naming prominent politician Andy Burnham — against treating the aviation and holiday industry as a “cash cow.”
Burnham is widely anticipated to enter Downing Street later this month following recent political shifts.
“Don’t treat the aviation or holiday industry as a cash cow, because taxes increase the price of flying,” Heapy said, pointing out that Jet2 had to absorb $67 million in additional regulatory and tax costs over the last year. “I think, you know, enough is enough.”
Operationally, Jet2 is pushing a major expansion strategy designed to challenge the UK’s dominant legacy carriers. In March, the airline launched a six-aircraft hub at London Gatwick Airport, signaling an aggressive move out of its traditional northern England strongholds. The company notes it now operates within a 90-minute drive of more than 90% of the UK population.
Crypto
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