XRP has consistently attracted interest from financial institutions seeking advanced solutions for digital payment infrastructure. Recent attention focused on past discussions in France about possible XRP integration in the development of the Digital Euro, spotlighted by the crypto researcher SMQKE.
France’s digital euro considerations
SMQKE highlighted on X that the Bank of France “openly discussed XRP as a possible platform to issue the Digital Euro.” This statement references documented evidence, specifically a 2020 report by CPA Australia.
CPA Australia’s analysis mentioned that French authorities considered Ripple and XRP among potential technologies to underpin Europe’s central bank digital currency (CBDC). According to the report, XRP’s permissioned, bank-friendly network structure was viewed as a key differentiator from open blockchains such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
The same report noted that the trust XRP had earned among banks positioned it as a candidate for large-scale financial applications. However, the analysis only documented the discussion, without confirming any official selection or adoption of XRP for the digital euro.
Discussions in France included XRP as a possible platform for the Digital Euro, as referenced in a 2020 CPA Australia report that also emphasized XRP’s strengthened trust in global banking circles through its permissioned ledger technology.
Mini dictionary: CPA Australia, a major professional accounting body, is recognized for its industry research and analysis of international financial developments, including central bank digital currency studies.
Responses and clarifications
Community members were quick to clarify the context of the reference. X user MjB38 pointed out that the discussion originated from the CPA Australia document, not from an official Bank of France announcement or decision.
While some in the crypto community found the historical reference notable, there is no evidence demonstrating that France, the European Central Bank (ECB), or any European financial authority chose XRP or the XRP Ledger for the future digital euro’s infrastructure.
Analysts emphasized the distinction between exploring and documenting technology options versus selecting one for implementation. The CPA Australia report documented a conversation rather than a definitive policy decision by the Bank of France.
XRP’s place in central bank projects
Ripple’s technology, including the XRP Ledger, has featured in central bank digital currency discussions due to its capacity for private, permissioned networks offering fast settlement, privacy, and regulatory control—features often found lacking in public blockchains.
Ripple, the US-based company behind the XRP Ledger, has previously piloted a private version of this technology, aiming to serve central banks and monetary authorities by providing secure and controllable digital currency solutions.
Despite these developments, the ECB has not publicly named any blockchain, including XRP or the XRP Ledger, as part of the official digital euro project. Documented explorations, like those referenced in third-party industry reports, remain points of historical interest rather than indicators of future policy direction.
