Circle policy director: 'France has become the crypto powerhouse of the EU'

"France has become the crypto powerhouse of the EU," said Hansen, according to his post on X. "After a week in Paris for our @circle Forum and Paris Blockchain Week, this seems clearer to me than ever. The developer community is thriving and creating lots of successful crypto entrepreneurs. The political administration is very supportive by creating regulatory clarity and by treating this technology as a huge economic opportunity."

According to the post, Hansen's comments were made following Circle's participation in Paris Blockchain Week. This annual conference focuses on blockchain and digital asset industries. Circle also hosted its second annual Circle Forum Paris, where industry leaders and government officials convened. Among them was Marina Ferrari, the French Secretary of State for Digital Affairs. They discussed the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulations enacted by the EU. Hansen observed that the crypto ecosystem in France continues to expand with substantial financing for startups and over 100 registered Digital Asset Service Providers (DASP). "That's why we are more confident than ever in our decision to make France our EU & MiCA regulatory headquarter," said Hansen.

A post reported that over 9,000 individuals attended Paris Blockchain Week 2024, marking its fifth annual edition. Jeremy Allaire, co-founder and CEO of Circle, was among the featured speakers at the event. Other industry leaders present included Binance CEO Richard Teng, Stellar Foundation CEO Denelle Dixon, and Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse.

Talos reported that during the conference, Ferrari urged traditional financial institutions and partners in regulatory and investment sectors to collaborate with Web3 companies. She believes this will help France maintain its leadership position in financial innovation. "I'm calling on you to join forces so that we don't lose our lead in financial innovation," Ferrari said. A panel discussion at the conference saw agreement from both private and public sector participants on the need for increased collaboration as MiCA moves towards implementation.

Hansen's LinkedIn profile reveals that, in addition to his role at Circle, he serves as a member of the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum panel. His previous roles include serving as a crypto venture advisor for Presight Capital, and he is also a certified blockchain developer.