Belgium’s former Finance Minister Johan Van Overtveldt has called for a crypto ban in the wake of the banking crisis.
Johan Van Overtveldt, a member of the European Parliament and former Minister of Finance of Belgium, said in a Twitter post on March 17 that cryptos should be banned. Van Overtveldt, the economics spokesperson for the group of 64 lawmakers, made these comments as he prepared to discuss landmark crypto licensing rules for the European Parliament.
Finance Minister Overtveldt Defends Crypto Ban
Belgium’s former Finance Minister Johan Van Overtveldt tweeted: “Another lesson to be learned from the current banking turmoil is a strict ban on cryptocurrencies.” In the continuation of his sharing, Overtveldt stated that the assets consist of speculations with no economic or social value.
As the banking crisis from crypto-friendly Silvergate and Silicon Valley Bank spread to European markets, Overtveldt said: “If a government bans drugs, it should ban crypto too.”
Van Overtveldt represents the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformers, the fifth largest political group in Parliament, on the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee. Overtveldt served as Belgium’s Minister of Finance from 2014 to 2018.
The Crypto Asset Markets regulation, in which the European Parliament will provide a regulatory framework for digital wallet providers and exchanges, is expected to be voted on next month.