The rapidly growing market for stablecoins—cryptocurrencies pegged to traditional currencies—is coming under increasing scrutiny from regulators. Most recently, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has highlighted potential risks, stating that dollar-pegged stablecoins, in particular, could pose a problem for financial stability and the functioning of banks.
Article content – dollar-pegged stablecoins:
- Stablecoins are becoming more like regular money
- USDt and USDC Are Closer to Investment Products
- Dollar-pegged stablecoins – Risk of a chain reaction during times of stress
- Regulation Is Not Yet Sufficient
- Dollar-pegged stablecoins – Europe tightens its stance
- Pressure is mounting in the UK and Switzerland as well
Stablecoins are becoming more like regular money
BIS General Manager Pablo Hernández de Cos noted at a Bank of Japan seminar in Tokyo that if stablecoins grow significantly, they could begin to compete with traditional money. According to him, such a development would have “far-reaching implications” for financial stability and economic policy.
While stablecoins offer technological advantages, such as faster cross-border transfers or integration with smart contracts, their current form still does not meet the requirements for a widely used means of payment, according to the BIS.
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USDt and USDC Are Closer to Investment Products
According to the BIS, the largest dollar-pegged stablecoins, such as USDT and USDC, exhibit characteristics more akin to investment instruments than digital cash. It highlights the fees and conditions associated with redeeming tokens, as well as situations where their price on secondary markets deviates from their nominal value.
According to de Cose, it is precisely these features that make stablecoins resemble exchange-traded funds (ETFs). At the same time, however, he notes that unlike ETFs, stablecoins can create more significant systemic risks, particularly in the event of a sudden capital outflow.
Dollar-pegged stablecoins – Risk of a chain reaction during times of stress
Stablecoin issuers hold reserves primarily in short-term government bonds and bank deposits. In a crisis scenario, rapid withdrawals could force these entities to sell them off, in a situation where markets are already under pressure.
Such a development could lead not only to a disruption of bond markets but also to the transmission of stress to the banking sector. In this context, the BIS warns of the risk of so-called contagion, where problems in one segment quickly spill over into other parts of the financial system.
Regulation Is Not Yet Sufficient
Another problem remains the infrastructure of stablecoins themselves. They often operate on public blockchains and use non-custodial wallets, which means that a significant portion of transactions takes place outside standard anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing controls.
Without additional measures at entry and exit points, stablecoins could, according to the BIS, also be attractive for illegal activities. This is precisely why it is calling for stronger international regulatory coordination.
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Dollar-pegged stablecoins – Europe tightens its stance
European institutions are also responding to growing concerns. Denis Beau of the Bank of France called on the European Union to go beyond the current regulatory framework and restrict the use of stablecoins pegged to currencies other than the euro in everyday payments.
The European Central Bank also notes that stablecoins share certain characteristics with tokenized money market funds. Both types of instruments involve liquidity transformation and are susceptible to runs, and differences in regulation can influence how potential stress spreads to the broader financial system.
Pressure is mounting in the UK and Switzerland as well
The debate over stablecoins is also taking place outside the European Union. In the United Kingdom, the House of Lords has addressed the issue, questioning Coinbase representatives, among other things, on whether stablecoins could drain deposits from banks or contribute to crises similar to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.
At the same time, the British government is preparing its own regulatory framework for fiat-backed stablecoins. Switzerland, on the other hand, is taking an experimental approach. UBS, together with other institutions, launched a pilot project for a stablecoin pegged to the Swiss franc, which operates in sandbox mode and is intended to test the potential applications of blockchain within the regulated financial system.
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