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France’s ‘Startup Nation’ Becomes a Haven for Crypto

  • Circle, Binance, Crypto.com have made Paris their Europe base
  • Macron’s push comes as US regulators clamp down on crypto
Attendees at the Paris Blockchain event.
Attendees at the Paris Blockchain event.Photographer: Alexander Sitter/Cognito

At a crypto conference in Paris in late March, the buzz stood in sharp contrast to the nearby mounds of trash that gave the impression of a breakdown in city services. 

As protests and strikes against President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to raise the retirement age roiled the French capital, digital-asset executives rubbed shoulders at a convention space inside the Louvre Palace. Attendees sipped champagne at an evening gathering in the museum section and then were treated to a private viewing of the Mona Lisa and other masterpieces.