Lawmaker signs petition calling for legal changes that would allow France's central bank to buy bitcoin

A lawmaker in France has signed on to a new petition calling for the French government to allow the country's central bank to buy bitcoin.

The president of a blockchain development firm introduced the petition, and if it meets certain conditions, it will be referred to the French Senate.

So far, the petition has received 322 signatures. The petition will be active until September 5. Among its signatories is Jean-Michel Mis, a member of the National Assembly since 2017 who serves on the Committee of Legal Affairs. 

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The petition came from Francois Thoorens, president and co-founder of ARK Ecosystem, a blockchain development platform. It calls on the French central bank to actively explore strategies related to acquiring bitcoin as a treasury asset like gold.

However, for that to happen, France's legislature would need to update the monetary and financial code to enable the central bank to actually undertake such activities. 

The petition has already been sent to the Senate for validation to allow its publication on the body's petitions site. If it receives 100,000 signatures, the goal will go before the Conference Presidents, which consists of the president of the National Assembly, vice presidents, presidents of permanent commissions and some other prominent members of the National Assembly. The group decides on any follow-up activities related to the petition.

About Author

Aislinn Keely is a reporter on The Block's policy team holding down the legal beat. She covers court decisions, bankruptcies, regulatory actions and other key moments in the legal sphere, putting them in context for the wider crypto industry. Before The Block, she lent her voice to the NPR affiliate WFUV and helmed Fordham University's student newspaper. Send tips or thoughts on all things policy and legal to [email protected] or follow her on Twitter for updates @AislinnKeely.