Emre Yumlu 
European lawmakers have remained silent on Trump’s Bitcoin reserve order, while the ECB continues to push for the digital euro’s launch in October 2025.
Trump’s Bitcoin Reserve Decision Shadows Europe’s Digital Euro Plans
On March 7, U.S. President Donald Trump announced an executive order to create a Bitcoin reserve by utilizing cryptocurrency seized in criminal cases rather than purchasing Bitcoin from the market.
Despite the significance of this move, European policymakers have yet to make any public statements regarding Bitcoin reserves. Anastasija Plotnikova, CEO of blockchain regulatory firm Fideum, stated that Europe’s efforts toward Bitcoin reserves are lacking, and the ECB’s critical stance towards Bitcoin as a reserve asset is preventing EU member states from pursuing initiatives in this area.
Meanwhile, European lawmakers are preparing to launch the digital euro.
Europe’s Digital Euro Step Remains Silent on Trump’s Bitcoin Reserve Decision
The silence of European lawmakers regarding Trump’s Bitcoin reserve order is believed to stem from their focus on the digital euro. DFG CEO James Wo pointed out that this is due to the ECB’s stance against holding Bitcoin in reserves. He also emphasized the EU’s increased focus on the digital euro, but noted that the recent Target 2 payment system outage exposed challenges in overseeing digital currencies.
Despite skepticism, ECB President Christine Lagarde continues to push for the launch of the digital euro in October 2025 and has stated that privacy protections will address concerns about excessive government intervention.
U.S. and EU Approaches to Digital Assets Contradict: CBDCs and Surveillance Concerns
The United States and the European Union are taking opposite approaches to digital assets. While the EU is working to integrate a centralized digital currency, Trump is taking a firm stance against CBDCs.
CBDCs have been praised for their potential to increase financial inclusion, but critics have raised concerns about their surveillance capabilities and the potential for government overreach.
In July 2023, Brazil’s central bank published the source code for its CBDC pilot, and within just four days, people noticed surveillance and control mechanisms embedded within the code, allowing the central bank to freeze or reduce user funds in CBDC wallets.
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