French Minister of State for Digital Affairs Urges Industry to Spearhead Innovation

Recently, Talos attended Paris Blockchain Week 2024 located in the Carrousel du Louvre, where global institutions convened to discuss pivotal themes such as macro trends, European regulations, infrastructure, security, and more. Here are three key takeaways from the event:‍

The Minister of State for Digital Affairs urges France to maintain its lead in financial innovation

Marina Ferrari, Minister of State for Digital Affairs, delivered the opening speech at a side event at the Ministry of Economics and Finance. Mrs. Ferrari called upon allies in traditional finance, regulators, and international investors to collaborate closely to sustain France’s position. She emphasized, "The developed projects in France are still limited, and we can't rule out a loss of power. I'm calling on you to join forces so that we don't lose our lead in financial innovation."

New $IBIT authorized participants spark interest among traditional institutional investors

The announcement of new authorized participants for ETFs, just days before the event, ignited optimism among institutional investors yet to explore digital assets. Notably, spot bitcoin ETF issuer BlackRock welcomed Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Citadel, UBS, and ABN AMRO as authorized participants for $IBIT. Panels at the event naturally gravitated towards discussing this development, highlighting its significance.‍

Further public and private sector collaboration is needed prior to MiCA's go-live date

Stakeholders across funds, banks, and service providers unanimously acknowledged the monumental opportunity presented by MiCA. In a panel discussion moderated by Elise Soucie, Director of Global Policy & Regulatory Affairs at Global Digital Finance, representatives from both the public and private sectors echoed the need for closer collaboration as MiCA progresses towards implementation.

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