Towards a euro-based digital economy

A conversation with Martin Bruncko, CEO of Schuman Financial, issuer of the EURØP stablecoin.

The rise of stablecoins has already reshaped digital finance, but Europe’s journey toward a euro-based digital economy is just beginning. With new EU regulations setting the stage for compliant, transparent, and institutional-grade stablecoins, EURØP has recently launched and been listed on Bitvavo’s trading platform.

In this interview, we sit down with Martin Bruncko, CEO of Schuman Financial, to explore how Schuman’s EURØP stablecoin is bridging the gap between traditional finance and crypto, why regulatory compliance is a game-changer for euro-backed stablecoins, and what the future holds for a potential European digital economy.

EURØP is branded as “a fully compliant stablecoin.” What does that actually mean in practice, and how does it differentiate EURØP from other euro-backed stablecoins currently in the market?

EURØP is issued under an EMI license from the French regulator ACPR, providing full compliance with MiCAR. Every token is 100% backed by fiat reserves held in European financial institutions and subject to regular audits by KPMG. We are fully transparent with a clearly defined legal structure and built for seamless integration with both traditional finance and digital assets.

Europe is leading landmark regulatory frameworks for crypto. What challenges did Schuman Financial face in meeting requirements, and how do you see regulation shaping the stablecoin market in the next 3-5 years?

Obtaining the licence and achieving compliance took hundreds of hours of work and significant funding. We invested in technology upgrades, produced dozens of documents and built deep collaboration with our partners and regulators.

MiCAR will define the future of European digital finance by enforcing transparency and regulatory clarity, paving the way for further adoption. This provides the necessary foundation for building up Europe as an ongoing leader in digital assets. With MiCAR, Europe is ready to drive mainstream adoption and develop a resilient, digital assets market over the next several years. Projects like EURØP will stand out as reliable assets, while less secure stablecoins will be phased out.

For traders used to USDT and USDC, what are the tangible benefits of using a compliant stablecoin like EURØP? Does regulation provide any advantages in terms of security, reliability, or long-term adoption?

There are two parts to this. The first part is the fact that most Europeans live in a euro-based economy, yet still rely on the dollar when it comes to digital assets. It’s now more obvious than ever that Europeans need to reduce their dependency on USD and move back to euro. When you use dollars, you’re exposed to unnecessary forex risks and the capriciousness of US politicians and regulators.

The second part is that under MiCAR, all issuers must maintain 100% fiat reserves and undergo regular independent audits. This level of regulatory oversight does not exist for US-based stablecoin issuers, making EURØP a more transparent and secure option for European users. Additionally, all regulated European stablecoin issuers guarantee 1:1 redemption at any time. 

A major concern with stablecoins is transparency. How does EURØP ensure full backing and proof of reserves, and how does your approach compare to industry leaders like USDC or Tether?

Transparency is non-negotiable for us. Every EURØP token is fully backed by cash and cash equivalents held at major European banks like Societe Generale. Starting in 2 weeks, our reserves will undergo quarterly audits by KPMG, and these reports will be publicly available on our website. 

We are governed by French financial authorities, who are some of the strictest in the world. This level of transparency and accountability is unmatched.

What measures does Schuman Financial have in place to prevent a scenario like Terra’s UST collapse? How can users be sure EURØP will remain fully redeemable, even in extreme market conditions?

EURØP is fundamentally different from algorithmic stablecoins like Terra. Each EURØP is fully backed by fiat reserves, guaranteeing constant liquidity and stability. We work exclusively with regulated financial institutions and undergo continuous monitoring and security checks.

All EURØP holders have a legally guaranteed right to redeem their tokens 1:1 for euros. This means no overleveraging or algorithmic dependence. Our reserves are real and liquid, ensuring that we can honor our holders’ redemptions even during volatile times.

EURØP is designed for payments and settlements. Are you in discussions with European banks, fintechs, or governments to drive adoption? What role do you see stablecoins playing in the EU’s broader payments landscape?

Yes, we’ve been very actively engaging with banks and fintechs since before our launch. Our goal is to integrate EURØP seamlessly into Europe’s financial system, making it as easy to use as traditional banking infrastructure.

Stablecoins like EURØP will play a key role in modernising Europe’s financial services. For example, in payments we’re targeting the existing market inefficiencies by enabling instant cross-border transactions, removing costly fees, and improving financial accessibility. At Schuman, we are not building crypto for the sake of crypto. Our focus is on real-world financial applications that drive tangible value. We want integrations that will accelerate mainstream adoption and connect EURØP with both traditional finance and digital assets.

What’s your strategy to encourage both crypto-native users and traditional financial institutions to adopt EURØP? Are there incentives or partnerships in the works?

We’re building adoption from both ends as we don’t want to be yet another stablecoin issuer stuck within the boundaries of blockchain. 

For crypto-natives, we’re now doing listings on all major European exchanges paired with efficient on/off-ramps and a wide offering of pairs with low spreads. We’re also working on the expansion into DeFi, where we’re planning to deploy on new chains and protocols within the next weeks and months. 

For TradFi, we’re focused on partnerships with banks, payment providers, asset managers, and fintechs to integrate EURØP into real-world financial systems, making it as easy to use as traditional money.

With CBDCs like the digital euro in development, do you see stablecoins like EURØP coexisting with central bank digital currencies, or do you anticipate regulatory pressure to limit their role?

CBDCs and stablecoins will coexist while serving different roles. A digital euro issued by a central bank cannot offer the flexibility and interoperability of an on-chain stablecoin. CBDCs are unlikely to provide the use cases that holders actually want and will most likely end up with a rather limited and slow adoption. 

Then there are the concerns over privacy and control, where many holders prefer a decentralised yet fully regulated alternative like EURØP. Even though we’re a regulated financial institution, we value our holders' privacy and freedoms to the extent that it is compliant with EU regulatory requirements. If you’re not committing crimes or doing something illegal, you can do with your EURØP as you wish. We don’t want to control our holders.

Given the growing competition in the euro-denominated stablecoin space, what is EURØP’s unique value proposition for retail users, businesses, and financial institutions?

We like to see EURØP as more than just a stablecoin. It’s the foundation of a euro-based digital economy. We are actively building an ecosystem of real financial use cases with EURØP at its center. We’re working with partners ranging from traditional banking and financial institutions to fintechs and DeFi protocols.

In addition, our leadership team brings decades of expertise from the top echelons of digital assets, TradFi, and policymaking.

If we fast forward to 2026, what does success look like for EURØP? How do you envision its role in the European digital asset ecosystem, and what milestones do you aim to hit by then?

Success for EURØP means becoming the default on-chain euro representation. We want EURØP to be embedded into Europe’s financial infrastructure. We want EURØP to be used in payments, settlements, DeFi, and business operations. Our vision is to power a true on-chain euro economy, making digital finance a part of your daily life without all the hassle of jumping between digital assets and TradFi. Using EURØP should be as easy and natural as using your payments card or cash.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a marketing communication or recommendation. None of the content herein should be considered as investment advice or a substitute for it.

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