European banks are accelerating their exploration of blockchain and digital assets, as our speakers highlighted both regulatory tailwinds and new collaborative projects across the sector. Speaking at Dorsum Expert Talk podcast, Vid Hribar, who leads blockchain initiatives at Blockchain Hub Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), and Peter Kanti Head of Digital Assets and Blockchain Dorsum, outlined how institutional players are moving beyond experimentation toward real applications in payments and stablecoins.
Raiffeisen’s Blockchain Hub Strategy
Hribar described RBI’s Blockchain Hub as a small but strategic team tasked with analyzing emerging technologies and piloting blockchain use cases. The group focuses on digital money and payments, while also shaping long-term strategy for the bank. “We experiment, we pilot, but a big part of our work is strategy building — showing the way forward,” Hribar said.
Regulatory Clarity Drives Adoption
Both speakers pointed to the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation as a turning point. The framework, passed earlier this year, has provided banks with the confidence to engage more actively in digital assets. “After MiCA, we can see a lot of push in terms of cryptocurrencies and digital assets, especially in banking,” Vid Hribar noted. Peter Kanti added that Hungary and the wider region are witnessing growing enthusiasm as institutions gain clarity on compliance.
Euro Stablecoin Initiative
One of the most significant developments is RBI’s plan to launch a euro-backed stablecoin in partnership with eight other banks. The project, announced in September, has been in development for three years. The initiative underscores how stablecoins are emerging as a bridge between traditional banking and digital finance, offering faster, more secure settlement options while remaining anchored to fiat currency.
Collaboration Models
The discussion also highlighted different approaches to blockchain adoption.
Both agreed that collaboration between institutions and external partners will be critical to scaling adoption across the region.
Outlook
With regulatory clarity, institutional commitment, and cross-border collaboration, Central Europe is positioning itself as a testbed for blockchain in banking. Stablecoins, in particular, are expected to play a central role in reshaping payments infrastructure. “The proof is that it is happening,” Peter Kanti said, emphasizing that blockchain use cases are no longer theoretical but increasingly part of banks’ operational roadmaps.
Listen to the full podcast episode here:
