The European Commission plans to allow foreign stablecoins to operate under the same terms as EU-registered ones, potentially boosting dollar-backed tokens' circulation in Europe.
The European Central Bank, led by Christine Lagarde, opposes this move, citing concerns about risks such as capital outflows and weakened monetary control.
Current regulations require stablecoin issuers in the EU to meet specific criteria; upcoming changes may relax these rules, favoring U.S. dollar stablecoins and promoting market flexibility.
The potential approval of U.S. stablecoins in the EU represents a shift towards embracing payment innovation, despite the ECB's worries about the stability of the euro.