Bitcoin Advocates Push for French Adoption After Key Meeting

Samson Mow, the founder of Jan3, is actively pursuing the expansion of Bitcoin adoption across Europe, following a productive meeting with Sarah Knafo, a pro-Bitcoin French lawmaker. Mow expressed his enthusiasm for initiating a wave of nation-state Bitcoin adoption in Europe, particularly in France, after their discussions at BTC Prague. The meeting focused on developing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve for France and promoting favorable regulations for the asset.

Knafo, who is a member of the European Parliament, invited Mow and his team to France to continue their discussions on Bitcoin. She highlighted the importance of France taking the lead in these issues and praised Mow as an expert in Bitcoin adoption by states, noting his advisory role to the President of El Salvador and others. Knafo also met with Michael Saylor, the executive chairman of Strategy, describing him as visionary and ambitious.

The invitation from Knafo comes at a time when France is increasingly engaging with Bitcoin in both public and private sectors. In June, Blockchain Group, a Paris-based cryptocurrency firm, acquired 624 Bitcoin for 60.2 million euros, bringing its total holdings to 1,471 Bitcoin. Additionally, France’s state-owned bank Bpifrance announced plans to spend 25 million euros on cryptocurrencies to support local crypto and blockchain projects.

Despite these developments, some crypto executives have expressed concerns about the slow pace of crypto adoption in Europe compared to other regions. Elisenda Fabrega, general counsel at Brickken, a European real-world asset tokenization platform, noted that European corporate adoption remains limited. She attributed this hesitation to regulatory challenges, institutional signaling, and market maturity. Fabrega also pointed out that Europe has yet to take a definitive stance on Bitcoin as a reserve asset.

The European Union’s regulatory framework for crypto-assets, known as MiCA, was proposed in September 2020, adopted in May 2023, and fully enforced in December 2024. This framework aims to provide a comprehensive set of rules for crypto-assets, including Bitcoin, to ensure investor protection and market integrity. However, the implementation of MiCA has not yet resulted in a significant increase in Bitcoin adoption by European nations.

Mow’s efforts to promote Bitcoin adoption in Europe are part of his broader mission to bolster nation-state adoption of the cryptocurrency. He resigned from Blockstream in March 2022 to focus on this goal through Jan3. Mow’s expertise and experience in advising governments on Bitcoin adoption make him a valuable ally for countries looking to integrate the cryptocurrency into their financial systems. His meeting with Knafo and the subsequent invitation to France signal a growing interest in Bitcoin among European lawmakers and policymakers.