EU tightens stablecoin rules to counter US influence, Bloomberg reports

European policymakers are moving to counter what they see as a channel for U.S. influence to expand into next-generation payment infrastructure: dollar-based stablecoins, Bloomberg reported. According to the report, the EU is applying strict regulations to the issuance and use of stablecoins to curb related risks. In parallel, some European banks are preparing to issue euro-denominated stablecoins to accelerate the creation of a competing payment network. This initiative is linked to Europe's wariness of its reliance on U.S. firms like Visa and Mastercard for its payment infrastructure. The European Central Bank (ECB) has been exploring a digital euro since 2020 to enhance payment independence, but progress has been slow, with a launch not anticipated until after 2029. The report added that concerns over U.S. control of financial infrastructure being used as a geopolitical tool have grown for years, particularly after Visa and Mastercard suspended services in Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.