The development of global standards for stablecoins has experienced a slowdown over the past year, sparking concerns among central bankers that regulatory gaps could lead to market fragmentation and increased risk. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, who chairs the Financial Stability Board, noted that progress on international rules has stalled, according to recent reports. This has raised concerns with Bank for International Settlements General Manager Pablo Hernández de Cos, who emphasized the importance of global cooperation to prevent a patchwork of regulations that companies could exploit.
De Cos warned that without international alignment, firms may relocate to jurisdictions with less stringent oversight, a practice known as regulatory arbitrage. As major economies move forward with their own frameworks, often with different timelines and approaches, the stablecoin sector has grown significantly over the past few years, now accounting for $320 billion. The majority of this figure is comprised of Tether's USDT and Circle Internet's USDC. De Cos noted that the structure of these stablecoins can resemble securities more than traditional currency, and that redemption issues can cause prices to deviate from their intended value of $1.
He also highlighted the potential risks of sudden withdrawals, which could have a ripple effect on markets. To mitigate these risks, proposals include limiting interest payments on stablecoins and providing issuers with access to central bank lending facilities or deposit insurance-type arrangements. Policymakers argue that such measures could enhance the safety of the sector while preserving its role in digital payments. In the United States, lawmakers are working to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which aims to establish federal rules for digital asset markets.
The bill, which passed the House last year, is currently before the Senate, where lawmakers are leading the push for its advancement. A potential compromise on stablecoin yield could pave the way for a markup, while a hearing on the matter is expected to take place in the second half of April. However, a deal remains contingent on resolving several outstanding issues, including DeFi oversight and ethics provisions.