BBVA joins Qivalis banking consortium to advance launch of regulated euro stablecoin
Amsterdam, February 4th, 2026 – BBVA (Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria) has officially joined Qivalis, a consortium of leading European banks working to establish a MiCAR-compliant euro-stablecoin issuer, currently progressing towards authorisation by the Dutch Central Bank (DNB). The consortium now comprises twelve European banks: Banca Sella, BBVA, BNP Paribas, CaixaBank, Danske Bank, DekaBank, DZ BANK, ING, KBC, Raiffeisen Bank International, SEB, and UniCredit.
Jan-Oliver Sell, CEO of Qivalis, comments: “We are excited to welcome BBVA to the consortium. BBVA’s vision and expertise in digital payments, as well as their strong reputation as a major European bank, make them a highly valuable partner to Qivalis and the consortium. Their involvement reflects the increasing dedication of European banking institutions to jointly develop a European on-chain payment ecosystem based on the trust that banks provide. This step consolidates Qivalis’ standing as Europe's foremost bank-supported stablecoin initiative.”
BBVA is a Spanish multinational financial services institution with operations across multiple geographies. The bank has demonstrated significant commitment to digital transformation and sustainable finance initiatives. BBVA has received recognition from industry analysts and rating agencies for its digital banking platforms and mobile applications, securing positions in various international rankings for digital banking excellence. BBVA is the second Spanish bank joining the consortium, following CaixaBank.
“Collaboration between banks is key to create common standards that support the evolution of the future banking model and deliver financial innovation to our clients in a consistent and practical way. In this regard, BBVA brings to Qivalis extensive experience amassed over years of exploring and developing use cases linked to digital assets,” said Alicia Pertusa, Head of Partnerships & Innovation at BBVA CIB.
Domiciled in Amsterdam, Qivalis is building a resilient institutional‑grade on‑chain infrastructure. Currently, Qivalis is progressing towards authorisation by the Dutch Central Bank to operate as an Electronic Money Institution (EMI), with a target launch in the second half of 2026. Preparatory activities include ongoing regulatory engagement, operational readiness, and technical implementation to ensure full compliance and a secure, market-ready launch in 2026.
The consortium remains open to additional banks joining its mission to drive innovation in payments, settlement, and digital assets, with regulatory clarity, security, and institutional responsibility at its core.
About Qivalis
Qivalis is developing a fully regulated, euro-denominated stablecoin backed by a consortium of leading European banks. Domiciled in Amsterdam and pursuing Dutch Central Bank (DNB) authorisation as an Electronic Money Institution, Qivalis will provide a fully compliant, 1:1-backed euro stablecoin as a cornerstone of institutional-grade on-chain payment infrastructure. By bridging traditional finance and digital innovation, Qivalis will deliver security, transparency, and trust to Europe's evolving digital economy. Qivalis plans to launch in the second half of 2026.
About BBVA
BBVA is a global financial services group founded in 1857. The bank is present in more than 25 countries, has a strong leadership position in the Spanish market, is the largest financial institution in Mexico and it has leading franchises in South America and Turkey. In the United States, BBVA also has a significant investment, transactional, and capital markets banking business.
BBVA contributes with its activity to the progress and welfare of all its stakeholders: shareholders, clients, employees, providers and society in general. In this regard, BBVA supports families, entrepreneurs and companies in their plans, and helps them to take advantage of the opportunities provided by innovation and technology. Likewise, BBVA offers its customers a unique value proposition, leveraged on technology and data, helping them improve their financial health with personalized information on financial decision-making.
