France
French Regulator Says Fleeing U.S. Crypto Firms ‘Welcome’
100-odd crypto companies fleeing U.S. regulatory uncertainty are "welcome" in France and could be registered in the country as the just-agreed MiCA EU crypto legislation beds in, Financial Markets Authority officials said. "The Hash" panel discusses what this means for the global crypto industry.
The Sandbox Co-Founder Addresses AI's Impact on the Metaverse
Sebastien Borget, co-founder and COO of The Sandbox, joins "First Mover" to discuss the benefits and possible risks of artificial intelligence in the metaverse. Plus, Borget's reaction to the French Economy Ministry aiming to stop dominance by international internet giants in the metaverse.
French Central Bank Says DeFi May Be Forced to Incorporate and Certify
Projects in decentralized finance (DeFi) could be forced to incorporate or prove that they meet governance and security norms, a report by the French central bank said, as regulators seek to extend planned crypto laws to cover more kinds of blockchain-based structures. CoinDesk Global Policy and Regulation Managing Editor Nikhilesh De discusses what this means for the sector as lawmakers in the EU are due to vote on the Markets in Crypto Assets regulation, or MiCA, next week.
Duo Involved in Platypus Crypto Exploit Arrested by French Police
Two people alleged to be behind an attack on the decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol Platypus have been arrested, according to a tweet by France's police department. The flash loan exploit drained the protocol of over $9 million in assets and knocked Platypus USD (USP) off its peg. "The Hash" panel shares their insights as French police aren’t naming the suspects or announcing the charges at this time.
Zuckerberg’s Horizon Worlds Teaser Lacks Creativity: Sandbox Co-Founder
Sandbox Co-Founder Sebastien Borget reacts to Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement of a new Horizon Worlds release in France and Spain, where the Meta CEO was mocked online for posting a screenshot of his digital avatar standing in front of the Eiffel Tower. Borget adds, “it seems he doesn’t make anyone dream about possibilities” for the metaverse.
Facebook Parent Meta Mocked Online After New Horizon Worlds Rollout
Meta's launch of "Horizon Worlds" in Spain and France this week has been mocked online, after CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared his avatar from the platform that revealed graphics of a questionable quality. "The Hash" panel discusses the latest in Meta's virtual ambitions and whether it's paying off.
French Fintech Lydia Taps Bitpanda to Let 5.5M Users Trade Crypto
Austrian crypto exchange Bitpanda, the country's first tech unicorn, has teamed with French mobile payments app Lydia to offer its 5.5 million users the ability to invest in over 170 crypto assets. Bitpanda Chief Product Officer Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad shares insights into the partnership, France's regulatory reception to crypto, and the state of DeFi in Europe.
Blockchain-Based Fantasy Soccer Platform Sorare to Raise $532M in Funding
According to an unconfirmed Business Insider report Wednesday, Paris-based digital soccer collectibles platform Sorare is expected to announce that it will receive $532 million in funding. This would allegedly represent the most significant capital raise in the history of France’s technology sector.
