Le Cercle du Coin

What Le Cercle du Coin does

Le Cercle du Coin is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) founded in late 2015 that operates as a community and advocacy organization for Bitcoin, decentralized currencies, and blockchain technology in the francophone world. The association is headquartered at 43 rue Saint-Sauveur, Paris, and is self-financed through member dues and donations, with an explicit policy of accepting no public subsidies. Its governance model is described as inspired by decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) principles, and operationally the association functions through working commissions, a member-elected president, and a distributed volunteer base across France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Portugal.

The association's product and service surface is community-driven rather than technology-driven. The flagship offering is the Repas du Coin, a recurring monthly community dinner that has been organized 56+ times across 18+ cities since March 2015, attracting nearly 500 unique guests. Supplementary offerings include local member meetups, press communiqués on cryptocurrency topics, a French-language newsletter, the Le Coin Coin blog, a public FAQ on Bitcoin, advisory services to merchants and businesses exploring decentralized-currency acceptance and blockchain adoption, and formal engagement with French parliamentary working groups and media. The association does not develop proprietary technology products; instead, it operates communication infrastructure on standard tools including Slack and a WordPress-based website, and accepts Bitcoin donations at a public on-chain address.

The business model is that of a French non-profit association: revenue comes exclusively from individual member dues, corporate and association member dues, and voluntary donations (including in Bitcoin). The association has no customers in a commercial sense and no pricing for services; its members are individuals, companies, media outlets, schools, and other associations active in the francophone crypto ecosystem. Customer-facing experiences are mediated through free events, free public content, and free advisory interactions, with monetization occurring indirectly through ecosystem legitimization, advocacy impact, and support of members' commercial activities.

Name

Le Cercle du Coin

Legal name

Le Cercle du Coin

Website

https://lecercleducoin.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Le Cercle du Coin is a French non-profit association that organizes francophone community events, education, advocacy, and media engagement around Bitcoin, decentralized currencies, and blockchain technology, serving individual enthusiasts, blockchain startups, and member media outlets across France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Portugal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Le Cercle du Coin is a French non-profit association (Loi de 1901) that organizes the francophone Bitcoin and blockchain community through monthly in-person Repas du Coin dinners, local meetup coordination across 18+ cities, French-language educational content (blog, newsletter, FAQ), merchant Bitcoin adoption support, and advocacy with media and French institutions. It is self-financed through annual member dues and Bitcoin/PayPal donations, and does not charge for its community services.

Product overview

Le Cercle du Coin is a French non-profit association (Loi de 1901) dedicated to promoting Bitcoin, decentralized currencies, and blockchain technology adoption. The association operates as a community-driven organization rather than a traditional technology company. Its primary offerings include: (1) Repas du Coin - regular in-person dinner events that serve as the core community-building activity across French-speaking regions, (2) Local meetup coordination supporting chapters in over 15 cities, (3) Press communications and public statements on cryptocurrency matters, (4) Newsletter distribution, (5) Bitcoin adoption support and advisory services for merchants and businesses, (6) educational content through its blog and FAQ resources. The association does not develop or sell proprietary technology products but focuses on community organizing, education, advocacy, and networking within the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Repas du Coin (Coin Dinner Events) Recurring monthly in-person community dining events that bring together Bitcoin and cryptocurrency enthusiasts across French-speaking regions to network, share knowledge, and foster adoption of decentralized currencies.
• Local Meetup Coordination

Quantifiable outcome

• 150 members across 12 countries/territories by December 2018, up from 26 at founding in early 2016
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• BdxChain (Bordeaux Blockchain Meetup)minorOthersBdxChain is a Bordeaux-based blockchain meetup community. Le Cercle du Coin has supported the organization of its events and maintains a close relationship, with the association's members participating in and sponsoring its activities.
• BdxCoin (Bordeaux Bitcoin Meetup)minorOthersBdxCoin is a Bordeaux-based Bitcoin meetup group. Le Cercle du Coin has been a partner in organizing meetup events in Bordeaux.
• Bitcoin LausanneminorOthersBitcoin Lausanne is a meetup group in Lausanne, Switzerland. The association co-organized events with them, including a March 2019 meetup featuring Mubiz, Pikcio, and ID Quantique presentations.
• Marseille Bitcoin MeetupminorOthersEdouard Vallet, a founder of Le Cercle du Coin, also organizes the Marseille Bitcoin Meetup. The association supports and promotes this meetup as part of its community-building mission.
• Bitcoin Amiens MeetupminorOthersA Bitcoin meetup group in Amiens, France. The association has supported meetup events in Amiens, including the 21st and 37th 'Repas du Coin' held there.
• Montpellier Blockchain MeetupminorOthersA blockchain meetup group in Montpellier, France. The association has been involved in or supported events in the Montpellier area.
• Toulouse Bitcoin MeetupminorOthersThe Toulouse Bitcoin Meetup is supported by the association, with members from Toulouse participating in and co-organizing 'Repas du Coin' events in the city.
• CryptoPinte (Strasbourg)minorOthersCryptoPinte is a Strasbourg-based crypto community meetup group. The association has held events in Strasbourg in connection with this community.
• ENS (École Normale Supérieure)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerENS (École Normale Supérieure) is a prestigious French higher education institution. Le Cercle du Coin has partnered with ENS in the context of events.
• Canton ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanton Consulting, founded by Jean-Yves Rossi (a founding member of Le Cercle du Coin), is a consulting firm in the blockchain/crypto space. Jean-Yves Rossi co-founded the association.
• PayforumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPayforum is a payment industry forum. Le Cercle du Coin has partnered with Payforum in the context of conferences.
• Assas Think LiberalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssas Think Liberal is a student association at Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II). Le Cercle du Coin has partnered with them in the context of conferences.
• AquinumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquinum is a digital/innovation association. Le Cercle du Coin has partnered with Aquinum in the context of the BdxCoin and BdxChain meetup events in Bordeaux.
• Villes InternetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVilles Internet is a network of French cities committed to digital transformation. Le Cercle du Coin has partnered with them in the context of conferences on digital identity and citizenship.
• Forum d'AvignonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Forum d'Avignon is a cultural and economic forum. Le Cercle du Coin has partnered with them in the context of conferences.
• Blockchain RévolutionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlockchain Révolution is a blockchain-focused media and events brand. Le Cercle du Coin is listed as a partner on their platform.
• BxFintechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBxFintech is a Bordeaux-based fintech association. Le Cercle du Coin has partnered with them in the context of conferences.
• Club parlementaire des nouvelles révolutions industriellesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Club parlementaire des nouvelles révolutions industrielles (Parliamentary Club for New Industrial Revolutions) is a French parliamentary group. Le Cercle du Coin has partnered with them for dinner-debate events.
• BlockchainDayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlockchainDay is a blockchain conference series in France. Le Cercle du Coin has partnered with them in the context of conferences.
• Be-Crypto (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBe-Crypto is a Belgian cryptocurrency community organization. Le Cercle du Coin co-organized a full-day event with Be-Crypto in Soignies, Belgium in November 2021, including a meetup and NFT workshop.
• Block Café (Lisbon)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlock Café in Lisbon, Portugal, is a crypto community hub and co-organizer of the 'Repas du Coin' event in Lisbon in September 2019, which was co-hosted with B40Lux and IndéNodes.
• Asseth (Ethereum France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsseth is the Ethereum France association. It joined Le Cercle du Coin as a member in 2018, representing the Ethereum community within the association's broader blockchain focus.
• Belgian Bitcoin AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Belgian Bitcoin Association was represented among the founding members of Le Cercle du Coin (via Jérémie Dubois-Lacoste), demonstrating cross-border collaboration from the association's inception.
• Swiss Bitcoin AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Swiss Bitcoin Association was represented among the founding members of Le Cercle du Coin (via Alexis Roussel, CEO of Swiss Bitcoin Exchange), demonstrating cross-border collaboration from the association's inception.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Coin Center: A leading US-based non-profit crypto policy and research organization. It is comparable to Le Cercle du Coin in its non-profit, advocacy-focused mission, but operates at a much larger scale with professional staff and a broader policy remit.
• Blockchain Association: A US-based crypto industry association representing large crypto companies and investors. Comparable to Le Cercle du Coin in its industry advocacy function, but operates at significantly larger scale with paid staff and broad policy engagement.
• Crypto Council for Innovation: A global alliance of crypto industry leaders advocating for policies that foster innovation. Comparable to Le Cercle du Coin in its advocacy mission, but operates globally with corporate funding and broader thematic scope.
• Chamber of Digital Commerce: A US-based blockchain trade association advocating for the digital asset industry. Comparable to Le Cercle du Coin in its industry advocacy mission, but at significantly larger scale and broader policy remit.
• European Blockchain Association: A Brussels-based association representing European blockchain industry stakeholders. It operates at a broader geographic and thematic scale than Le Cercle du Coin, with formal regulatory engagement across EU institutions.
• Adan (Association pour le Développement des Actifs Numériques): A French industry association representing a broad range of crypto and digital asset professionals. Unlike Le Cercle du Coin's Bitcoin-specific focus, Adan serves the broader digital assets ecosystem in its regulatory advocacy and education work.

Emerging players

• Asseth (Ethereum France): The Ethereum France association, which joined Le Cercle du Coin as a member in 2018. Comparable as a French non-profit blockchain association, but with a specific Ethereum/L2 focus rather than a Bitcoin-first mandate.

Direct peers

• Swiss Bitcoin Association: A Swiss Bitcoin association whose member (Alexis Roussel, CEO of Swiss Bitcoin Exchange) was among the founding members of Le Cercle du Coin. Both are non-profit, European, Bitcoin-focused advocacy organizations with cross-border francophone reach.
• Belgian Bitcoin Association: A Belgian Bitcoin association whose founder (Jérémie Dubois-Lacoste) was among the founding members of Le Cercle du Coin. Both are non-profit, francophone, Bitcoin-focused advocacy associations operating with similar governance and educational missions.

Regional players

• Maison du Bitcoin: A Paris-based Bitcoin and blockchain community hub. It competes with Le Cercle du Coin for francophone crypto community engagement in France, but operates with a more commercial, physical-hub model rather than a member-association model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/le-cercle-du-coin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Le Cercle du Coin