Marquant and Qivalis Announce Strategic Cooperation on Digital Banking Infrastructure

Key Highlights

• Partnership Scope: Marquant will provide its digital infrastructure technology to Qivalis's consortium of 37 European banks, enabling secure digital asset custody, tokenization, and transaction management.
• Regulatory Alignment: The cooperation is structured to comply with the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR), with oversight from De Nederlandsche Bank.
• Timeline: The integration is expected to be operational by the time Qivalis launches its euro stablecoin in the second half of 2026.
• Strategic Significance: The partnership positions both companies as key players in Europe's push for financial sovereignty and on-chain euro settlement infrastructure.

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A Meeting of Infrastructure and Ambition

AMSTERDAM — Marquant, the digital infrastructure firm specializing in blockchain solutions for the banking sector, has formalized a cooperation agreement with Qivalis, the European banking consortium that has gathered 37 major financial institutions across 15 countries to develop a regulated euro stablecoin.

The partnership, announced today, will see Marquant's technology integrated into Qivalis's platform, providing member banks with access to enterprise-grade digital asset management, custody, and tokenization capabilities. The cooperation is set to be fully operational by the second half of 2026, aligning with Qivalis's planned stablecoin launch.

Marquant, which operates as a digital infrastructure provider for banks, brings to the partnership a suite of tools designed to bridge traditional financial systems with blockchain technology. The company's platform enables institutions to manage digital assets, execute tokenized transactions, and maintain compliance with evolving regulatory frameworks. For Qivalis, the integration represents a critical piece of its technological backbone, ensuring that the consortium's 37 member banks—including ING, UniCredit, BNP Paribas, Rabobank, Nordea, Intesa Sanpaolo, and Banco Sabadell—can seamlessly participate in the on-chain euro ecosystem.

Sovereign Infrastructure for a Digital Euro

The cooperation is set against a backdrop of growing concern among European policymakers about the dominance of dollar-denominated stablecoins. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde recently noted that of the roughly $300 billion in stablecoins currently in circulation, the vast majority are U.S. dollar-based, with 90% controlled by just two issuers—Tether and Circle. "The growing argument is that to remain relevant, Europe must respond by promoting euro-denominated stablecoins of its own," Lagarde said. "Otherwise, it faces a future of digital dollarization and a loss of monetary sovereignty".

Qivalis, which began as a nine-bank consortium in September 2025 and has since grown to 37 members, was established precisely to address this concern. The consortium is seeking authorization from De Nederlandsche Bank to operate as an electronic money institution, and expects to launch its stablecoin in the second half of 2026, pending final regulatory approval.

Qivalis brand imagery. Image: Qivalis

Marquant's involvement is expected to accelerate the consortium's ability to offer a full suite of digital financial services to its member banks. According to a statement from Qivalis, the cooperation will support "native on-chain payment and settlement solutions in euros" for a range of applications, including corporate treasury management, international trade finance, and tokenized asset settlement.

Building the "On-Chain Euro"

The partnership reflects a broader industrial strategy shared by both companies. Qivalis has consistently framed its mission as ensuring that "the euro is the currency of Europe, and the financial infrastructure of the future should carry it—built by European institutions and regulated according to European standards". Marquant, with its existing infrastructure solutions for banks, is positioned as a natural partner in this effort.

Howard Davies, chairman of Qivalis's supervisory board, has described the consortium's work as more than a payments project. "We are not merely building payment rails; we are ensuring that European principles—around data protection, financial stability, and regulatory rigor—are embedded into the next generation of digital money," he said.

The cooperation agreement between Marquant and Qivalis is likely to be seen by industry observers as a signal that Europe's traditional banking sector is moving beyond exploratory interest in digital assets and toward practical implementation. With 37 banks now aligned under the Qivalis consortium, and technology partners like Marquant providing the underlying infrastructure, the project is poised to deliver a fully regulated, bank-led alternative to dollar-dominated stablecoins.

Outlook and Next Steps

The Qivalis stablecoin is designed to be backed 1:1 by euro reserves, with at least 40% held in bank deposits and the remainder in high-quality sovereign bonds from multiple euro-area countries to avoid concentration risk. The token will support 24/7 redemption and will be distributed both through member banks' own channels and through third-party exchange partners that comply with MiCAR.

For Marquant, the partnership with Qivalis represents a significant validation of its infrastructure model and a major expansion of its institutional footprint. For Qivalis, the cooperation provides the technological foundation needed to integrate its diverse consortium of banks into a unified on-chain ecosystem.

Both companies have confirmed that the integration work is already underway, with a target completion date in the second half of 2026, ahead of the stablecoin's official launch.

About the Companies

Marquant is a digital infrastructure provider for banks, offering blockchain-based solutions for digital asset management, custody, and tokenization. The company focuses on bridging traditional financial institutions with the emerging digital asset ecosystem through secure, compliant, and scalable technology.

Qivalis is a European banking consortium headquartered in Amsterdam, comprising 37 financial institutions across 15 European countries. The consortium is developing a regulated, euro-pegged stablecoin designed to provide a secure and compliant on-chain settlement rail. Qivalis is pending authorization as an electronic money institution from De Nederlandsche Bank and plans to launch in the second half of 2026.