Global Stablecoin Regulation Alignment: EU-US Collaboration for Internet of Value

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have emphasized the critical need for international stablecoin regulatory alignment during their recent Franco-German Council of Ministers meeting. Their joint economic agenda highlights that digital currencies transcend national borders, requiring cross-border regulatory cooperation to match stablecoins' borderless design. Stablecoins represent internet-native money - available 24/7, borderless, programmable, and accessible via smartphones. Unlike traditional payment systems, they enable instant global value transfer without weekend closures or complex banking networks. Stablecoins mark the first significant cross-border payment upgrade since SWIFT's 1970s introduction, combining messaging with settlement for breakthrough payment innovation. Major regulatory frameworks including Europe's MiCA and America's GENIUS Act share fundamental principles: mandatory 1:1 reserves in high-quality assets, par redemption guarantees, regular public reporting, and strict AML standards. Both permit bank and non-bank issuance, though differences exist in reserve composition and reporting requirements. The crucial divergence involves foreign issuer treatment. GENIUS proposes equivalence regimes allowing compliant stablecoins from comparable jurisdictions direct US market access, while MiCA requires foreign issuers to establish licensed EU entities with local reserves. This distinction reflects timing differences rather than philosophical divides. International regulatory alignment within 12-24 months is essential. Coordinated transatlantic approaches would ensure stablecoins function identically across borders, providing businesses with multi-currency management capabilities and consumers with regulated local access. Without cooperation, unregulated offshore actors or fragmented national systems could dominate, undermining global economic integration. Stablecoins represent the monetary evolution of the open web, potentially making value as accessible and programmable as information. EU-US leadership can establish stablecoins as global public goods rather than regulatory competition instruments.