coindesk.com
21 April 2026 08:04, UTC
EMBARGO: APRIL 21, 2026 @ 9:00 AM BST (UK)
Cryptocurrency custody firm Fireblocks is handling the issuance and distribution of a euro-denominated stablecoin, backed by a group of twelve European banks, known as the Qivalis consortium.
The euro-backed token, scheduled for release in the second half of 2026, is regulated by the Dutch Central Bank through Amsterdam-based Qivalis and is compliant with the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR).
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The Qivalis consortium is made up of: Banca Sella, BBVA, BNP Paribas, CaixaBank, Danske Bank, DekaBank, DZ BANK, ING, KBC, Raiffeisen Bank International, SEB, and UniCredit.
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies with values pegged to an external reference such as the dollar, euro and other fiat currencies. The stablecoin market hit $305 billion in January 2026, but 99% of that volume remains dollar-denominated, with euro-pegged assets representing just $650 million.
The Qivalis consortium aims to challenge this dollar dominance with a regulated, MiCAR-compliant offering, according to a press release on Tuesday. The euro is the second-most traded currency in the world, accounting for a daily average volume of nearly $1.1 trillion.
"Qivalis demonstrates how major financial institutions can work together to plan a compliant euro-backed stablecoins at scale – with production-ready infrastructure that will meet MiCAR requirements, handle institutional volumes, and integrate seamlessly with existing banking systems,” said Michael Shaulov, Co-Founder and CEO of Fireblocks.
