Michael Amar founded Paris Blockchain Week in 2019 because U.S. and Asian investors told him Paris had no crypto ecosystem. This year, 250 banks showed up.

At PBW 2026, he sits with David Sencil to put real numbers behind the institutional adoption story, explain why MiCA enforcement is filtering who can attend European events, and predict where the next year's crypto M&A will land.

We cover:

- The 15-to-250 banks curve, year over year

- PBW's "Paris is good for food and vacation, but for crypto, no" origin

- MiCA enforcement filtering European events in real time

- Why next year is the crypto M&A year

- France's strengths and gaps for crypto founders

Chapters:

00:17 - Welcome to Bitcoin.com News Live Desk

00:36 - Michael Amar's Background

01:14 - Early Involvement in Digital Assets

02:23 - Launching Paris Blockchain Week

03:21 - Success and Challenges of the Conference

04:18 - Institutional Adoption and Growth

05:01 - Institutional Presence at the Conference

06:18 - European Regulations and Compliance

07:32 - Market Share and Competition

08:46 - Future of Crypto in Paris and Europe

09:33 - France's Role in Web3 and Crypto

10:34 - French Regulations and Innovations

11:11 - International Perspective on French Ecosystem

12:20 - Venue and Logistics of the Conference

13:34 - VIP Dinner at Versailles

14:48 - Planning and Execution of the Conference

15:42 - Importance of Quality and Logistics

16:57 - Support for French Entrepreneurs

19:38 - Safety and Perception Issues

21:43 - Key Elements for a Successful Conference

23:00 - Networking and Business Opportunities

24:11 - The Importance of Real-Life Engagements

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