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Nuclear energy and cryptocurrencies: an improbable marriage? Marine Le Pen, a key figure in the French political landscape, has shaken up the norms by linking these two worlds. During a visit to the EPR in Flamanville, she outlined a vision where surplus nuclear electricity would power Bitcoin mining. This is historic. For the first time, a French political party is considering crypto mining as a tool for energy valuation. Marine Le Pen denounces a “French aberration“: nuclear reactors operating at 70% of their capacity, compared to 90% in the United States. According to her, this underutilization is a political choice in favor of intermittent energies, weakening the grid. Rather than reducing production during surpluses, she proposes channeling them to innovative uses. Cryptocurrency mining is at the top of the list. An idea that attracts attention for its apparent simplicity: converting unused megawatts into digital assets, generating revenue for EDF. “Giving up electricity production is to give up creating wealth“, she asserts. However, this logic raises questions. Stress corrosion, pointed out by the General Inspectorate for Nuclear Safety, imposes technical limits. Running reactors at full capacity would require colossal investments in maintenance. The project relies on a fragile balance between profitability and safety — a risky bet, but one that is accepted. Marine Le Pen’s discourse goes beyond energy anecdotes. It fits into a broader strategy: anchoring crypto in the real economy. By mentioning hydrogen production or “strategic reserves” for EDF, she outlines a hybrid crypto-economy connected to the public sector. A surprising turn for a party often seen as wary of decentralized innovations. This approach seeks to reconcile two antagonistic worlds. On one side, nuclear, a symbol of state sovereignty. On the other, cryptocurrencies, born from a libertarian philosophy. Le Pen sees it as an opportunity for “breakthrough” with “declinist” policies. But behind the ambition lie areas of darkness. What about the environmental impact? While nuclear-powered mining reduces the carbon footprint, it does not eliminate it. Criticism regarding the energy consumption of blockchain endures. Furthermore, the idea of constituting strategic reserves in cryptocurrencies to finance EDF raises questions. Will France follow the United States’ example by adopting a bill and accumulating over a million BTC?

XRP traders showed resilience on Friday by holding on to long positions. XRP’s open interest was held firmly above $3 billion. CME Group’s ETF announcement triggered an altcoins’ rebound on Friday. XRP traders showed resilience on Friday by holding on to long positions despite the cryptocurrency’s decline below the crucial $2 support. The traders’ reluctance to close long positions ensured that XRP’s open interest stayed above $3 billion. With the bullish sentiment intact, XRP rebounded from a $1.94 low on Friday, returning above $2 to trade for $2.18 at the time of writing. The recent price action has boosted investors’ confidence, raising the hopes of XRP users and giving credence to the opinion that the recent decline is a temporary pullback. CME Group and Solana Futures Meanwhile, CME Group announced plans to introduce a Solana futures contract on March 17, pending regulatory approvals. The announcement reignited existing ETF optimism among crypto users, considering the several altcoins awaiting ETF approvals from the SEC, including the pending XRP ETFs. Therefore, there is increased buying interest in XRP and the cryptocurrencies with pen… The post XRP Open Interest and CME ETF Announcement Triggers Altcoins Recovery appeared first on Coin Edition.