Eric Demuth

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Europe is at a crossroads, and the direction we choose today will define the next thirty years.

I recently spent time in San Francisco, and the difference in energy is palpable. It’s not just about the capital; it’s about the permission to fail and the obsession with building the future. In Europe, we are still too focused on the 'risks' of AI rather than the 'sovereignty' that comes with leading the field.

Capital: We need a real capital markets union to keep our best companies here.

Energy: AI is an energy game. Without cheap, firm power, we are out of the race.

Regulation: We must stop 'invoicing' our winners with fines and start 'incentivizing' them with freedom.

I am a deep believer in European talent. We have the engineers, the builders, and the heritage. But we are currently hindering ourselves with a hyper-administrative mindset that prioritizes safety over progress.

We need to embrace a new chapter. One where we are not just consumers of US tech, but the architects of our own digital destiny. It’s time to build.

How do you see the current state of European tech? Are we doing enough to compete?

PS: I’m back in Vienna now and feeling more motivated than ever to push Bitpanda to the next level. Let’s go! 😂

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