French lawmakers are set to debate a motion that could reshape the country’s digital asset strategy by banning central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and encouraging the use of stablecoins and crypto assets.
Introduced on Wednesday by Éric Ciotti, leader of the Union of the Right for the Republic, the proposal calls for France’s National Assembly to reject the digital euro project being developed by the European Central Bank (ECB). Instead, it urges the government to promote “the dissemination of euro stablecoins and investment in crypto-assets.”
The motion directly references the United States’ GENIUS Act, signed into law in July, which restricts CBDC development while promoting stablecoin innovation.
This proposed European resolution therefore calls on the Government to advocate for the future European prudential framework specific to cryptoasset exposures to deviate specifically from the 2022 Basel standard to facilitate the pledging of cryptoassets, the motion states, emphasizing flexibility in Basel Committee rules to support crypto adoption.
Possible bitcoin reserve proposal
Though the motion does not explicitly mention creating a national Bitcoin (BTC) reserve, local reports suggest Ciotti intends to push for France to hold around 2% of Bitcoin’s total supply roughly $48 billion at current prices.
This would mirror recent efforts in the United States, where the government has begun accumulating digital assets, including those seized through criminal cases, as part of a proposed strategic reserve.
The proposal arrives amid growing political discourse in France around national crypto policy. In August, the Rassemblement National party advocated for using surplus nuclear energy to mine Bitcoin a move positioned as both an energy efficiency and economic sovereignty initiative.
Global momentum for crypto reserves
France’s debate follows a broader international trend of governments considering crypto reserves as part of their financial strategy.
In Kyrgyzstan, lawmakers are exploring a digital asset reserve after consultations with former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, who now advises the country’s crypto committee. Similarly, Bhutan’s Druk Holding and Investments, one of the country’s economic hubs, announced plans in January to build a strategic crypto reserve using Bitcoin and other digital assets.
If adopted, Ciotti’s motion could position France as a major European player advocating for decentralized alternatives to CBDCs and expanding the role of stablecoins and Bitcoin in national economic policy.