• German lawmaker Joana Cotar is making moves that will recognize Bitcoin as a legal tender in the country.
• She is advocating against the development of the Digital Euro due to financial monitoring.

In a groundbreaking move, Joana Cotar, a member of the German Bundestag, has announced her support for recognizing Bitcoin (BTC) as legal tender in Germany. This revelation, made during an interview, marks a significant step towards mainstream acceptance of the leading cryptocurrency within the German financial system.

The Bitcoin in the Bundestag Initiative

To garner support within the German legislative body, Cotar has launched the “Bitcoin in the Bundestag” initiative. This effort aims to educate her parliamentary peers about the various benefits of Bitcoin, emphasizing its potential for financial freedom, privacy protection, and robust security standards. 

Cotar’s focus is exclusively on Bitcoin, differentiating it from other crypto assets, and she advocates for the establishment of a formal Bundestag committee dedicated to understanding the importance of Bitcoin for German society.

Cotar also emphasizes the need for a balanced regulatory environment that ensures legal security for companies and citizens while avoiding stifling innovation and the freedom aspects of Bitcoin. 

Recognizing the potential risks associated with Bitcoin, such as money laundering and tax evasion, Cotar aims to establish a legal framework that addresses these concerns without impeding the innovative nature of the cryptocurrency.

If Joana Cotar’s initiative succeeds, Germany could become a pioneer in adopting decentralized digital currency at a governmental level. Accepting Bitcoin for taxes and fees and leveraging Bitcoin mining to stabilize the power grid are integral components of the proposal. 

This potential move could have a positive impact on Bitcoin’s value, with increased demand and legitimacy attracting more institutional and individual investors. Germany’s economic influence in Europe and globally could further contribute to Bitcoin’s stability and potential upward trajectory in valuation.

Bitcoin vs Digital Euro

Cotar’s unwavering position extends to her clear stance against the digital Euro. She sees Bitcoin as a more suitable digital asset for Germany due to its decentralized nature and its potential to enhance financial freedom and privacy. 

Expressing concerns about potential surveillance and overreach by Central Banks, Cotar fears a digital Euro could lead to total monitoring of citizens. Drawing parallels with China’s social credit system, she urges caution against such potential intrusions into financial privacy.

It is worth mentioning that her reservations align with recent criticisms from the Institute of International Finance (IIF) regarding the European Commission’s proposed framework for the digital Euro. The IIF highlights uncertainties in enforcement mechanisms and potential economic challenges for payment service providers.

While the European Central Bank (ECB) is aggressively working toward the implementation of the digital Euro, ECB President Christine Lagarde admits that it is at least two years away. Concerns about privacy and the economic hurdles created by the legislation continue to stall the digital Euro’s development, allowing Bitcoin to gain traction.