Euronext chief gives thumbs down to crypto asset trading

THE head of European stock market infrastructure Euronext says he will not lead the exchange operator into crypto trading without full regulatory backing.

Stephane Boujnah (pictured), the French Chief Executive of Euronext, also suggested his extreme caution over cryptocurrency reflected the stance of regulators - particularly in Italy and the Netherlands.

His comments earlier today come as the prevailing wind of change in institutional attitudes sees the London Stock Exchange Group preparing to accept applications for crypto exchange-traded products later this year.

Germany's Deutsche Boerse is also on the brink of launching a platform under regulation for institutional crypto trading.

"We always considered this is an issue we cannot engage without absolute backing from supervisors," Boujnah said.

"We've always been very cautious about crypto assets - a little for conceptual reasons, and a lot because our regulators themselves are extremely so."