Bitcoin News Today: France Stacks Digital Gold to Secure Financial Sovereignty

France has unveiled a groundbreaking plan to establish Europe's first national Bitcoin reserve, aiming to acquire 420,000 BTC—approximately 2% of the cryptocurrency's total supply—over the next 7–8 years. The initiative, spearheaded by pro-crypto lawmakers and backed by a coalition of industry leaders, reflects Paris's ambition to assert financial sovereignty and position itself at the forefront of digital asset adoption in the region, according to a Coinspeaker report.

The proposal, submitted to the French National Assembly on October 28, 2025, envisions a strategic Bitcoin reserve modeled after the U.S. approach, with funding derived from public mining operations leveraging France's surplus nuclear and hydroelectric energy, as well as seized Bitcoin from judicial actions and contributions from savings products like the "Livret A", according to Coinpedia. Eric Ciotti, president of the Union of the Right and Center Party (UDR), emphasized that the move would insulate France from external economic pressures, particularly amid U.S. efforts to acquire French crypto mining firms. The bill also outlines plans to allow citizens to pay taxes in Bitcoin, pending constitutional approval, and to promote euro stablecoins for everyday transactions.

France's strategy aligns with a broader European trend of institutional Bitcoin adoption. Germany's Aifinyo AG recently converted its balance sheet to Bitcoin, mirroring Michael Saylor's strategy at MicroStrategy, while South Korea's Bitplanet announced a $40 million allocation for BTC purchases. These moves underscore a global shift toward treating Bitcoin as a strategic asset, with France's plan potentially setting a precedent for regulatory innovation, as Coinspeaker noted.

The initiative faces political hurdles, however. Ciotti's UDR holds only 16 of the 577 parliamentary seats, raising questions about the bill's passage. Yet, the government has signaled support for the crypto industry, including reduced electricity taxes for miners and streamlined processes for institutional Bitcoin acquisitions. Meanwhile, France's existing Bitcoin infrastructure, such as Capital B—a state-backed treasury already holding over 2,249 BTC—provides a foundation for scaling the reserve.

Regulatory developments further bolster the ecosystem. Swiss Bitcoin app Relai recently secured a MiCA license in France, according to TradingView, becoming one of the first platforms to offer services under the EU's new crypto framework. This marks a critical step in legitimizing Bitcoin as a mainstream financial tool.

As the debate unfolds, France's approach highlights the tension between embracing decentralized finance and maintaining centralized control. While critics warn of volatility risks, proponents argue that Bitcoin's role as "digital gold" could fortify national resilience in an era of geopolitical uncertainty.