Bundesbank chief Nagel advances ECB presidency bid as crypto policy hangs in the balance

Joachim Nagel, the president of Germany’s Bundesbank, is actively advancing his campaign to become the next head of the European Central Bank. His latest move: high-profile talks in Berlin that underscore just how serious this succession race has become. The succession race takes shape Christine Lagarde’s term as ECB president isn’t technically up until October 2027. But reports emerging since February 2026 have suggested she could step down early, setting off a competitive scramble among Europe’s top central bankers. Nagel isn’t the only name in the mix. Former Dutch central bank head Klaas Knot and former Bank of Spain governor Pablo Hernández de Cos are also considered serious contenders. Surveys conducted by OMFIF, a central banking think tank, in early to mid-2026 consistently placed Nagel among the top two or three candidates, citing his leadership abilities and capital markets knowledge. His attendance at key German cabinet meetings on July 6, 2026 in Berlin wasn’t just routine Bundesbank business. It was a signal. Showing up at the intersection of fiscal and monetary policy discussions, in the capital of Europe’s largest economy, is the kind of quiet positioning that matter...