TradingKey – The European Union is ramping up efforts to close the gap with U.S.-backed stablecoins, signaling a strategic shift in digital currency policy.

On Thursday, Pierre Gramegna, Managing Director of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), stated during a eurozone economic hearing that the EU should actively promote euro-denominated stablecoins to reduce reliance on dollar-based alternatives and foster domestic financial innovation.

This renewed push likely stems from growing concerns over the dominance of dollar stablecoins. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has previously warned that foreign-issued stablecoins pose systemic risks, potentially draining liquidity from the eurozone and undermining monetary sovereignty.

Currently, the largest euro stablecoin — EURC — has a market cap of just $260 million, ranking 11th globally. In contrast, the top 10 stablecoins are all dollar-pegged, with USDT alone exceeding $170 billion in market capitalization.

Top 10 Stablecoins by Market Cap – Source: CoinMarketCap.

This stark disparity highlights how far the EU lags behind the U.S. in the stablecoin race. By accelerating euro-backed initiatives, the EU aims to reclaim digital monetary relevance and reduce its vulnerability to external financial infrastructure.

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