Patrick Hansen, strategy lead at Circle, commented on the Franco-German economic agenda’s commitment to developing a European crypto market and enhancing competitiveness. He said that this indicates new momentum for the industry. The statement was made on X.
“Great to see Merz, Macron & the Franco-German Council of Ministers include crypto in their joint economic agenda unveiled a few days ago, promising “new momentum” for Europe,” said Hansen. “developing a vital European crypto market. promoting the competitiveness of European CASPs. The Franco-German axis can set priorities in the EU – so this a big signal for Europe’s crypto industry.”
The 25th Franco-German Council of Ministers in August 2025 adopted a joint Economic Agenda focused on competitiveness, innovation, and digital sovereignty. This agenda emphasizes developing pan-European payment schemes and streamlining EU digital regulations. Although cryptocurrency was not specifically mentioned, its relevance is implied within the broader finance and digital priorities guiding Franco-German coordination on EU economic policy, according to the German Federal Government.
Europe has received approximately $2.6 trillion in on-chain crypto value in the 12 months leading up to June 2025, marking a 42% increase year over year. This maintains Europe’s position as one of the world’s largest crypto markets. Despite faster growth in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, European activity remained strong across institutional and retail flows, as reported by Chainalysis’s 2025 Adoption Index according to Bitcoinist.
European crypto asset service providers operate under Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) rules; however, competitiveness challenges persist. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) noted in April 2025 that crypto assets remain a small and loosely integrated part of EU finance. Crypto funds represent less than 1% of the European fund universe, with 95% of EU banks reporting no crypto exposure, highlighting a gap compared to deeper U.S. and Asian markets as reported by Reuters.
Hansen is Senior Director for EU Strategy & Policy at Circle, where he engages in European crypto regulation and advocacy. He previously led blockchain policy at Bitkom and held roles at Unstoppable Finance, bringing expertise in both entrepreneurship and policy. Hansen holds master’s degrees in business and political science and frequently comments on EU digital-asset regulation as reported by Bitkom.
Circle, founded in 2013, is a global fintech company known for issuing fully reserved stablecoins such as USDC and EURC. Its mission emphasizes security, transparency, and compliance while playing a leading role in digital-asset policy debates—particularly in Europe with MiCA-compliant operations. Circle also positions itself as a core infrastructure provider for the emerging digital economy according to Circle.
