panel discussion: Stablecoins – Opportunities, Risks and Regulatory Perspectives

As digital assets continue to evolve, stablecoins have emerged as a pivotal innovation in the global debate on digital finance.

While they offer potential benefits in terms of efficiency, financial inclusion, and cross-border payments, they also raise fundamental questions related to monetary stability, regulation and sovereignty.

In several jurisdictions outside the European Union, stablecoins are already being integrated into financial systems at a rapid pace, which further intensifies the discussion on how the EU should position itself in this evolving landscape.

Against this background, the discussion will examine whether the current regulatory framework for stablecoins in the European Union remains fit for purpose, what implications stablecoins may have for monetary policy and financial stability, which role governments and central banks should play, and how opportunities for public-private cooperation in digital finance can be strengthened while safeguarding financial market stability and consumer protection.

Date:
25, February 2026

Time:
8:30 to 10.00 h

Place:
European Banking Federation (EBF)
Avenue des Arts 56 (1st floor)
1000 Brussels

Program:

08:30 h Arrival

08:45 h Welcome remarks
Kolja Gabriel, Executive Board, Association of German Banks (BdB)

08:50 h Panel discussion

• Peter Kerstens, Adviser DG FISMA, European Commission
• Stefan Berger, ECON Committee (EPP), European Parliament (tbc)
• Véronique Breidert, Managing Director, Bitpanda Asset Management
• Dr. Markus Demary, Senior Economist Monetary Policy & Financial Markets, German Economic Institute (IW)

moderated by
Alex Radunz, German Economic Institute (IW)

09:35 h Open discussion and Q&A

09:50 h Closing remarks

10:00 h End of the event