ECB president Lagarde has announced she is stepping down

[NeuroticFish]

Although she's still staying for 3 more months (until February 7), it's still news worthy.
I've looked up some weeks ago the list of possible replacements for ECB chair and, although most of them are no better, some few seem to be slightly more open towards Bitcoin and crypto.
Interestingly, the bullish part of Bitcoin cycle may overlap with this schedule and maybe, just maybe, ECB will be then led by somebody with less narrow ideas towards this industry and will give us a chance.

Edit: link: https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2026/html/ecb.pr261029~abbb6dc64b.en.html

[Dogedegen]

This is a good thing, she never should have been in that position but sadly Europeans are asleep like Americans. They let any corrupt person with huge incompetence lead any institutions, but this seems to be very common in our times wherever we look. Please don't take this as too beneficial yet, the primary reason for which she did this is a conspiracy among her colleagues. They are doing this intentionally before the French elections because they are fearing a change of power. That is why they want a potential successor to be appointed before that election. All of these are usual political games of retaining more power and control, not anything to do with doing things for the benefit of the citizens.

Still it is possible that we get someone more friendly towards Bitcoin, but that would positively surprise me. I would consider us very lucky and would be grateful for that outcome!

[fillippone]

Finally.
The worst ECB president is finally stepping down.
As far as crypto are concerned the two main candidates, don’t seem to be more bullish.
Just remember bitcoin is not crypto.

[General_Bitcoin]

I do not think we will see much change to the EU crypto policies because they are regulated by MiCA regulation which was approved by the European Parliament and Council. Therefore it would be hard for the new president to make any changes to the regulations.

In terms of Bitcoin, interest rates and stance of each candidate on interest rates plays a bigger role. Knot and Nagel are generally seen as more hawkish whereas Hernández de Cos is seen as more moderate and thus more dovish. This could have a bigger impact on liquidity and overall market sentiment due to their monetary policy stances.

France and Germany will likely play large role in choosing president but will require approval by larger number of countries within eurozone.

[Botnake]

This is good news for us. President Lagarde is known on her lines that bitcoin is "worth nothing" and "based on nothing" which only proves that her mind is closed on bitcoin. She even refused the idea to make bitcoin as a reserve asset or as a "hedging asset", and now, finally she's stepping down.

Now, her biggest challenge to her successors is on how to balance the regulations for bitcoin while Digital Euro is in developing process. And that wouldn't be a big problem if the next president will be more open about crypto, and will be a total opposite of Lagarde on how she viewed about crypto and bitcoin.

[abhiseshakana]

I think the other issue raise during ECB succession schedule are about figital euro project which still not finished on Lagarde era. I thing ECB not developing a CBDC to coexist peacefully with Bitcoin. its main mandate is maintaining their monetary sovereignty in the digital space. Even though Lagarde’s successor is crypto literate, it could be that he prefers the European digital adopted by the EU society. With his/her deep understanding on crypto actually more dangerous for the industry, because they know exactly which technical regulations need to be tightened or relaxed.

I think monetary stability is priority for ECB so whoever the successor no chance for allowing Bitcoin to intervene in the traditional Euro currency. But we hope whoever is elected is dovish eventhough does not necessarily result in more relaxed policies. As a bitcoin investor, we should put more attention in the direction of monetary policy, liquidity, and the policy of central bank regarding issues surrounding debt, inflation, and the stability of the financial system.

[Nalain420]

I think that the market is going to be ahead of itself by connecting the change in the leadership with bitcoins next phase. If it is being more open to crypto that does not necessary mean that the central banks president is going to sport all the policies that are being friendly with Bitcoin. One person attitude cannot change things overnight as ECB operates through a wider institutional framework. A new prospective comes in by the new President but the actual decision on regulations will come and we have to wait. They going to be monitory policies and digital assets before this is being treated as bullish development. Having hope is good but the decision for investment should be mainly based on the changes in the policy rather than just only on expectations.

[fillippone]

I have a bad feeling about the next ECB president, as they will be pushing the Digital Euro narrative.
And, sadly, recent binance event only pushed in that direction.
HFSP

[Japinat]

I think monetary stability is priority for ECB so whoever the successor no chance for allowing Bitcoin to intervene in the traditional Euro currency. But we hope whoever is elected is dovish eventhough does not necessarily result in more relaxed policies. As a bitcoin investor, we should put more attention in the direction of monetary policy, liquidity, and the policy of central bank regarding issues surrounding debt, inflation, and the stability of the financial system.

That depends on the next ECB president if he/she will be able to balance bitcoin regulations with the existing traditional Euro currency. At least we need to have someone filling up the position who is more enthusiastic about bitcoin and is more open on the possibilities that bitcoin will be accepted by the people as another alternative currency for bitcoin.

However, bitcoin may not bring any monetary stability, and that's a fact. But if people wants bitcoin which then be a threat to European monetary sovereignty, maybe this is the time where they will launch the digital euro to compete with digital bitcoin.

[Free Market Capitalist]

I have a bad feeling about the next ECB president, as they will be pushing the Digital Euro narrative.

I think the narrative was going to be pushed anyway, no matter who the chair of the ECB was/will be.

And, sadly, recent binance event only pushed in that direction.
HFSP

Are you saying that because a CBDC would, in theory, be much harder to hack? Or at least because that’s how they’re going to market it? In theory, it would make sense: if the ECB can program the money to expire or freeze it, then in the event that hackers manage to steal many millions—as in this case—all it would take is the ECB to press a button to render that money useless.

[davis196]

Although she's still staying for 3 more months (until February 7), it's still news worthy.
I've looked up some weeks ago the list of possible replacements for ECB chair and, although most of them are no better, some few seem to be slightly more open towards Bitcoin and crypto.
Interestingly, the bullish part of Bitcoin cycle may overlap with this schedule and maybe, just maybe, ECB will be then led by somebody with less narrow ideas towards this industry and will give us a chance.

Edit: link: https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2026/html/ecb.pr261029~abbb6dc64b.en.html

I have zero expectations about the new president of the European Central Bank. I don't think that ECB would ever become pro-crypto or less hostile against crypto. Perhaps the new ECB president would accelerate the launch of the "digital euro"(which was postponed for 2029, AFAIK).
This would be bad news for crypto in the Eurozone countries, because ECB would aggressively promote the "digital euro" and tighten the regulations and restrictions over some commercial banks (the ones, that were somewhat "crypto-friendly"). Nobody should expect any bullish news about Bitcoin/crypto coming from the European Union.

[Fortify]

Although she's still staying for 3 more months (until February 7), it's still news worthy.
I've looked up some weeks ago the list of possible replacements for ECB chair and, although most of them are no better, some few seem to be slightly more open towards Bitcoin and crypto.
Interestingly, the bullish part of Bitcoin cycle may overlap with this schedule and maybe, just maybe, ECB will be then led by somebody with less narrow ideas towards this industry and will give us a chance.

She has been quite a strong leader and stuck up for the best interests of the EU, but everyone is only temporary in these roles. She would have been a fairly unknown at the start of her tenor but grew into the role quite well. Crypto at least for a couple more decades is unlikely to take up much head space for the ECB chair because they have much more challenging problems to handle in keeping the Euro stable. Maybe the next head will be a bit more receptive to the idea of stablecoins, but with the recent hack at Binance they're going to want to see how the dust settles first. The fact that USDT and other coins were able to be frozen might actually be favorable to the situation but it goes against the original idea that Bitcoin does so well - irreversible currency and transactions. There might be some additional policies put in place around Bitcoin but it's unlikely to take a very large role.

[Abiky]

Although she's still staying for 3 more months (until February 7), it's still news worthy.
I've looked up some weeks ago the list of possible replacements for ECB chair and, although most of them are no better, some few seem to be slightly more open towards Bitcoin and crypto.
Interestingly, the bullish part of Bitcoin cycle may overlap with this schedule and maybe, just maybe, ECB will be then led by somebody with less narrow ideas towards this industry and will give us a chance.

Edit: link: https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2026/html/ecb.pr261029~abbb6dc64b.en.html

Great! Another globalist to leave the scene. Good riddance. The ECB is better off without her, in my opinion. It really needs a visionary leader. Someone who's willing to lead the European economy with an "iron fist".

An ECB chair whose friendly to crypto/Blockchain tech would be desired. We'll never know who the succesor will be until the time of Lagarde's departure. Anything else would be speculation. Here's hoping for the best.

[Alpha Marine]

I do not think we will see much change to the EU crypto policies because they are regulated by MiCA regulation which was approved by the European Parliament and Council. Therefore it would be hard for the new president to make any changes to the regulations.

This is what I thought. It won't make much difference. The views the European Council has towards Bitcoin and crypto is general. Meaning, most of them hold similar views, so it would be difficult to get a successor that is pro bitcoin. And even if they were pro bitcoin, they will be limited in what they can do because of where they are operating from.
The good thing is, people have been finding a way and Bitcoin is not depandent on the European cousil. SO whoever takes over, it would still survive in Europe. It's also hard to see anymore who will be more anti Bitcoin and crypto like Christine Lagarde.

[General_Bitcoin]

This is what I thought. It won't make much difference. The views the European Council has towards Bitcoin and crypto is general. Meaning, most of them hold similar views, so it would be difficult to get a successor that is pro bitcoin. And even if they were pro bitcoin, they will be limited in what they can do because of where they are operating from.
The good thing is, people have been finding a way and Bitcoin is not depandent on the European cousil. SO whoever takes over, it would still survive in Europe. It's also hard to see anymore who will be more anti Bitcoin and crypto like Christine Lagarde.

I agree, however it is area where new president could still have some influence. The negotiating mandate was approved by the European Parliament in July and negotiations with the Council are already underway. Pilot will be conducted in the second half of 2027, and the ECB would like to be ready for any initial issuance (if legislation is adopted) around 2029. However, final decision on whether to issue digital euro will be made by the ECB Governing Council. So there is more potential for the new president to have influence over digital euro than there is MiCA, although there will still be limits.

[Don Pedro Dinero]

Great! Another globalist to leave the scene. Good riddance. The ECB is better off without her, in my opinion. It really needs a visionary leader. Someone who's willing to lead the European economy with an "iron fist".

Good luck with that.

However, final decision on whether to issue digital euro will be made by the ECB Governing Council. So there is more potential for the new president to have influence over digital euro than there is MiCA, although there will still be limits.

I’d love it if the new ECB president were to scrap the CBDC project, but that would be a miracle. The people who want CBDCs to be rolled out are the very ones who put Lagarde in place and will appoint the next one.

I don’t believe in miracles.

[Faisal2202]

I am not from Europe, but I find it amusing, although it could be troublesome if they replaced her with Joachim Nagel, haha. That would be diabolical. I just read about the views of the other three candidates on Bitcoin, and all of them are not very friendly towards it. The current ones have said BTC is used for money laundering, and Joachim Nagel is so much against Bitcoin.

Klaas Knot seems like a good replacement, although I might not have read as much about him as most of you have, so ignore me if I'm wrong in saying he could be a good replacement.

[Dogedegen]

This is good news for us. President Lagarde is known on her lines that bitcoin is "worth nothing" and "based on nothing" which only proves that her mind is closed on bitcoin. She even refused the idea to make bitcoin as a reserve asset or as a "hedging asset", and now, finally she's stepping down.

Now, her biggest challenge to her successors is on how to balance the regulations for bitcoin while Digital Euro is in developing process. And that wouldn't be a big problem if the next president will be more open about crypto, and will be a total opposite of Lagarde on how she viewed about crypto and bitcoin.

It is misguided to think that those are her real thoughts or that she has any real thoughts or knowledge. If you look at how these positions are gotten, it is mostly nepotism and corruption. These fake experts just repeat the classic dogma that they are required to repeat, and then get other oversight or administrative functions. There is talk that she will go to the WEF next. And if she went beyond the line criticizing some false ideas from modern economics, banking, or similar areas they would not accept her in any positions. Some people sadly are naive still and believe that people that are holding some of these top positions are actual experts on the fields..

I think the other issue raise during ECB succession schedule are about figital euro project which still not finished on Lagarde era. I thing ECB not developing a CBDC to coexist peacefully with Bitcoin. its main mandate is maintaining their monetary sovereignty in the digital space. Even though Lagarde’s successor is crypto literate, it could be that he prefers the European digital adopted by the EU society. With his/her deep understanding on crypto actually more dangerous for the industry, because they know exactly which technical regulations need to be tightened or relaxed.

I think monetary stability is priority for ECB so whoever the successor no chance for allowing Bitcoin to intervene in the traditional Euro currency. But we hope whoever is elected is dovish eventhough does not necessarily result in more relaxed policies. As a bitcoin investor, we should put more attention in the direction of monetary policy, liquidity, and the policy of central bank regarding issues surrounding debt, inflation, and the stability of the financial system.

They really hate Bitcoin because it gives citizens an alternative. Some may doubt this but the EU is much closer than China than it is to the US, and sadly they will only realize this as the cage continues to shrink. EU mandatory CDBC with climate change related scoring is going to be their future, and then they will regret the days that they criticized or condemned china's social credit score while they own was being developed.