Madrid Event to Gather Banks Shaping Europe’s Digital Currency Future
MERGE Madrid 2026 will bring together banks, regulators, and financial leaders from Oct. 27 to 29 to discuss stablecoins, tokenization, and digital assets. The Qivalis consortium of 37 European financial institutions is developing a euro-denominated stablecoin under MiCA, with participants including BBVA, Santander, Cecabank, BNP Paribas, Visa, Mastercard, Ripple, and Circle. The event will focus on monetary sovereignty, digital payments, and Europe’s role in the future of money.
MERGE Madrid 2026 is scheduled for 27–29 October, split between the Madrid Stock Exchange and Palacio de Cibeles. Organizers expect more than 3,000 attendees and over 250 international speakers from banks, regulators, technology firms, and financial-infrastructure specialists.
Qivalis, a 37-institution European consortium, is pursuing a euro-pegged stablecoin compliant with MiCA. Its goal is continuous payments and near-instant settlement. Confirmed MERGE participants include BBVA, Cecabank, BNP Paribas, Banca Sella, Raiffeisen Bank, and Piraeus Bank.
The Madrid gathering and Qivalis effort may influence how quickly Europeans gain access to round-the-clock digital payments, potentially lowering some cross-border transaction frictions for businesses and consumers. Banks, payment networks, and regulators could face pressure to adapt compliance, custody, and settlement systems. If euro-denominated stablecoins gain traction, households and firms might see more choices, though risks around privacy, financial stability, and dollar dominance may shape public debate. The event’s impact will likely depend on regulatory clarity and adoption beyond conference announcements.