Station F, a massive startup incubator in Paris, has become home to a new blockchain accelerator that calls itself the largest in Europe. The news comes during a time of increasing support for blockchain and cryptocurrencies by the French finance minister.
Chain Accelerator boasts 30 cryptocurrency and blockchain experts[1] whose goal is to provide guidance and support to startups in the sector. Based at Station F, one of Europe's largest business incubator campuses, Chain Accelerator held[2] its inauguration blockchain accelerator event on June 18, 2018, and aims to raise 100 million euros for the 13 startups it supports so far.
Chain Accelerator's services[3] include technical prototyping, business development, recruitment, marketing and public relations, help with fundraising, and accompaniment for ICOs. Chain Accelerator charges startups a monthly fee, and also takes five percent of the "capital or token (tokens) issued during an ICO."
Listed supporters include Bibop Gresta[4], president of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies; Pascal Gauthier, president of Ledger; Edgar Auslander, head of augmented and virtual reality partnerships at Facebook; and Diana Biggs, HSBC's head of digital innovation.
"At a time when the president and the government want to make Paris the capital of the ICOs, Chain Accelerator is positioning itself as a key player," said co-founder Nicolas Cantu.
Cantu went on to describe the creation of a "global and operational network" in Paris as preparation for "disruptions to help blockchain projects develop protocols in all sectors."
French investment into blockchain and crypto-related companies has been on the rise over the past year. In December 2017, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire proposed[5] that Bitcoin be added to the Argentinian G20 summit to open up discussions on risk assessment and regulation. In May of this
