Europe’s fintech revolution is accelerating — powered by MiCAR, stablecoins, and the rise of intelligent payments.
As the EU’s landmark MiCAR regulation takes full effect, the way Europe moves money is changing fast. According to Wirex’s new whitepaper, “Status of Digital Payments: Italy and Europe under MiCAR,” euro-denominated stablecoins and AI-driven “agentic payments” could transform digital finance — unlocking a €1 trillion stablecoin market by 2030.
From Mobile Banking to Programmable Money
The journey of fintech has always been about removing friction — from contactless payments to instant transfers. But the next frontier goes beyond convenience: it’s about intelligence.
Wirex Co-Founder Pavel Matveev explains:
“The world has moved from mobile banking to programmable money. Stablecoins are not just a crypto use-case anymore — they’re the backbone of a new financial stack where payments become intelligent, self-executing, and borderless.”
This is where agentic payments come in — transactions that act on your behalf, powered by AI and smart contracts. Imagine your wallet automatically paying bills, managing subscriptions, optimising savings yields, and ensuring compliance — all without you lifting a finger.
Inside the Wirex Whitepaper: Key Insights
The whitepaper highlights five core trends shaping Europe’s next decade of payments innovation:
💶 €1 Trillion Stablecoin Market: Wirex forecasts a 10–15× growth in stablecoin circulation this decade, driven by MiCAR-compliant euro tokens.
🤖 Rise of Agentic Payments: AI-led transactions that make financial interactions autonomous, efficient, and adaptive.
🇪🇺 Shift from USD to EUR Stablecoins: With most stablecoins still pegged to the dollar, Wirex calls for coordinated EU action to promote euro-backed tokens — vital for monetary sovereignty.
🧩 MiCAR as Catalyst, Not Constraint: Far from stifling innovation, the new framework is attracting fintechs to hubs like Italy, where Wirex has established its European HQ in Milan.
🛡️ Compliance as a Competitive Advantage: Wirex’s own experience shows how “regulation-by-design” builds trust and accelerates mainstream adoption.
The Emergence of Stablecoin Neobanks
The whitepaper predicts a new generation of stablecoin-native challenger banks.
These institutions will merge the flexibility of crypto with the stability and regulation of traditional finance.
They’ll feature:
Non-custodial wallets for user-controlled funds.
On-chain settlement for real-time transparency.
Visa- and Mastercard-linked cards enabling seamless spending of stablecoins.
Wirex Co-Founder Dmitry Lazarichev calls this model “Banking 3.0”:
“MiCAR marks the beginning of a new chapter for digital finance in Europe. It ensures innovation is grounded in accountability, benefiting both the market and its participants.”
Italy: Europe’s Fintech Launchpad
Italy is proving to be a powerful testbed for this new ecosystem. From its Milan headquarters, Wirex is building compliance-first solutions that make stablecoins practical, transparent, and interoperable with traditional banking systems.
Alessandro Bruno-Bossio, Regional Managing Director Italy & Chief Customer Strategy & Retention Officer at Wirex, sees collaboration as key:
“The next decade won’t be defined by banks versus crypto, but by collaboration. Europe has a unique opportunity to lead in stablecoin innovation — turning regulatory clarity into global competitiveness.”
Policy Roadmap: How the EU Can Lead
The whitepaper calls on policymakers to coordinate efforts across the bloc by:
Harmonising MiCAR implementation in all Member States;
Expanding regulatory sandboxes for AI- and stablecoin-based payments;
Creating incentives for EUR-stablecoin adoption at the merchant level; and
Ensuring interoperability between the digital euro and private stablecoins.
This unified approach, Wirex argues, will position Europe as the world’s leader in responsible digital finance.
Why This Matters
Stablecoins and AI-powered transactions are ushering in a new financial era — one where payments can act, adapt, and optimise on their own.
With MiCAR providing the regulatory clarity innovators have been waiting for, Europe’s fintech ecosystem is poised to take the global lead.
💡 Read the full Wirex whitepaper to explore how MiCAR, AI, and stablecoins are reshaping Europe’s financial landscape: