Stablecoin settlement volume is expected to reach US$5.28 trillion this year. In-depth analysis of financial changes in emerging markets such as Braz
The global stablecoin settlement amount reached US$2.6 trillion in the first half of 2024, and is expected to rise to US$5.28 trillion for the whole year, showing the increasing importance of stablecoins in the global financial system.
Original title: "[In-depth Research Report] This year, the settlement volume of stablecoins is expected to reach 5.28 trillion US dollars, becoming a major component of the financial system: market analysis in Brazil, Nigeria, Turkey, Indonesia, and India"
Original source: Aiying Payment Compliance
Initially, stablecoins were mainly used for collateral and settlement between cryptocurrency traders, but as technology and markets matured, its application scenarios expanded rapidly, especially in emerging markets with weak financial infrastructure. Recent research from institutions such as Visa and Castle Island Ventures shows that stablecoins have surpassed their speculative uses and gradually become an important part of the global financial system, especially in emerging economies such as Brazil, Nigeria, Turkey, Indonesia, and India.
Users in these markets have found that stablecoins can not only serve as investment tools, but also provide them with more efficient remittance, payment and savings channels, especially when local currencies are unstable and banking services are not popular. Stablecoins are subverting traditional financial models and becoming an effective means to deal with currency depreciation and inflation in these markets, and also providing a new direction for thinking about global financial services.
Aiying will use Visa's stablecoin report to organize the rise of stablecoins in emerging markets, their actual application scenarios, and their profound impact on the global financial industry.
1. Growth trend of global stablecoins
In recent years, the growth rate of stablecoins has been remarkable, especially in the context of uncertainty in the global financial environment, stablecoins have become an effective tool for many countries and regions to cope with economic challenges. In the first half of 2024, the global settlement amount of stablecoins reached a staggering $2.6 trillion, and this figure is expected to rise to $5.28 trillion for the whole year. This phenomenon shows that the use of stablecoins has surpassed the cyclical fluctuations of the cryptocurrency market and has gradually become a key tool in the global financial system.
1. Rapid growth in supply
Since 2020, the global supply of stablecoins has continued to rise, especially dollar-pegged stablecoins such as USDT (Tether) and USDC. As of 2024, the total circulating supply of stablecoins has exceeded $160 billion, while in 2020, this figure was only a few billion dollars. This substantial growth not only reflects the strong market demand for stablecoins, but also highlights its huge potential in solving cross-border payments, savings protection, and currency conversion.
(Stablecoin supply divided by issuer)
2. Steady growth in user participation
Along with the increase in supply, the user activity of stablecoins has also increased significantly. The report shows that in 2024, there were more than 20 million active addresses trading stablecoins on the blockchain every month. In line with this, the number of transactions has also remained steadily rising, showing that users' daily reliance on stablecoins is increasing. Whether used for personal savings or for payments and remittances, stablecoins are increasingly integrated into global economic activities.
3. Crossing the cryptocurrency market cycle
It is worth noting that although the cryptocurrency market experienced greater volatility and downward cycles from 2022 to 2023, the trading volume and frequency of stablecoins were not significantly affected. This shows that stablecoins are no longer just a tool in the cryptocurrency market, and their application scenarios are rapidly expanding to the real economy. Especially in emerging markets, the stability and global accessibility of stablecoins make them an important means to combat currency depreciation and financial instability. (Comparison of spot trading volume of cryptocurrencies and the number of monthly active sending addresses of stablecoins) This rapid growth trend shows that stablecoins are no longer just a hedging tool for cryptocurrency investors, but have become an important supplement to the limitations of the traditional financial system worldwide, especially in emerging markets. As more and more countries and regions explore the inclusion of stablecoins in the financial system, industry practitioners face huge development opportunities.
2. The trend of stablecoins being pegged to the dollar
According to the report data, 98.97% of the stablecoin supply is pegged to the US dollar, while only 0.62% is pegged to gold and 0.38% is pegged to the euro, and other types of pegged assets account for only 0.04%. This shows that although there are other stablecoins pegged to the euro, gold, and even the renminbi on the market, users and businesses prefer to use stablecoins pegged to the US dollar for transactions and savings.
(Asset-pegged ratio of stablecoin supply)
The share of different currencies in the global economy, including the share of the US dollar, euro, yen and renminbi in various financial sectors. Specifically, the chart compares the global market share of these currencies in the following areas: foreign exchange reserves, international debt, international loans, international payments (SWIFT), foreign exchange transactions, and stablecoins. The chart shows that the US dollar dominates these areas, especially in foreign exchange reserves, international payments, foreign exchange transactions, and stablecoins, where its market share is close to or exceeds 60%.
(Share of different currencies in the global economy)
Although some stablecoins are pegged to the euro, gold, etc., their market share is extremely small. This is because the frequency and convenience of these currencies in international trade, savings and payments are far less extensive than the US dollar. The international influence and liquidity of the US dollar make it the dominant force in the stablecoin market.
III. Stablecoin revolution in emerging markets: Insights from five-country survey
(Trends in the use of stablecoins in five countries)
The report analyzes how 2,541 cryptocurrency users use stablecoins in their daily lives through an in-depth survey of five emerging markets (Brazil, Nigeria, Turkey, Indonesia and India). Users in these markets are gradually viewing stablecoins as financial tools to address economic challenges in their respective countries, including currency depreciation, high inflation, and cross-border payment difficulties. The following is Aiying's detailed analysis of the use of stablecoins in these five countries:
1. Nigeria: Avoiding the depreciation of the naira, stablecoins become a substitute for the US dollar
Nigeria has performed most prominently in the use of stablecoins and is one of the countries with the most extensive use of stablecoins among the five emerging markets. As the Naira continues to depreciate, many Nigerian users use stablecoins, especially those pegged to the US dollar (such as USDT), as a safe haven to protect their wealth from the depreciation of the local currency.
· Purpose:The report shows that Nigerian users mainly use stablecoins to save US dollars and regard them as a saving tool outside the local banking system. In addition, stablecoins are also widely used for remittances and payments for goods and services, helping users bypass the banking system and complete daily payments and transactions. This makes stablecoins an important part of Nigerians' daily lives, especially in the context of currency turmoil and severe inflation.
· Actual scenarios:For example, Nigerian users often use stablecoins to remit money to relatives working abroad or purchase goods on international e-commerce platforms, thereby avoiding high foreign exchange fees and the inconvenience of the banking system.
2. Turkey: A tool to cope with high inflation and pursue returns
Turkey is also an important market for the use of stablecoins, especially in the context of the country facing high inflation, and users are increasingly using stablecoins to earn returns. Due to the continued depreciation of the local currency (Turkish lira), users hope to earn returns on **decentralized finance (DeFi)** platforms through stablecoins to combat the shrinking wealth caused by inflation.
· Preferred public chain:The report pointed out that when using stablecoins, Turkish users usually prefer to choose mainstream blockchain platforms such as Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain for transactions. These platforms not only provide high liquidity, but also support a wealth of decentralized financial applications, enabling users to obtain higher returns by holding stablecoins.
· Actual scenario:ManyTurkish users use stablecoins to participate in financial activities such as decentralized lending and liquidity mining to earn additional income, thereby compensating for the economic losses caused by currency depreciation.
3. Indonesia: A convenient tool for currency conversion and arbitrage
In Indonesia, the main use of stablecoins is concentrated on currency conversion and arbitrage transactions. The report pointed out that Indonesian users are much more efficient in currency exchange and international payments through stablecoins than in the traditional banking system, which is one of the main reasons for the rapid popularity of stablecoins in the country. Use: Stablecoins are widely used in commercial payments and cross-border transactions, especially when foreign exchange conversion or large international transactions are required. The fast settlement and low transaction fees of stablecoins enable enterprises and individual users to bypass the complex processes of traditional banks, saving time and costs. Actual scenario: Small and medium-sized enterprises in Indonesia use stablecoins for cross-border trade settlement, greatly reducing the cumbersome procedures of traditional banks. In addition, some individual users use stablecoins to conduct arbitrage operations between different trading platforms to obtain profits from exchange rate fluctuations.
4. India: A multifunctional financial tool for savings and payments
The number of cryptocurrency and stablecoin users in India is growing rapidly, and stablecoins are gradually becoming an important financial tool in India, especially for savings and US dollar transactions. Since India's local currency (rupee) is relatively unstable, some users choose to convert their funds into stablecoins pegged to the US dollar to preserve value.
· Purpose: Indian users use stablecoins for savings to avoid the depreciation of the local currency. In addition, many users also use stablecoins for daily payments and commercial purposes, through which they trade goods and services, and even use them as a tool for salary payment.
· Actual scenarios: For example, some companies have begun to pay fees to overseas partners through stablecoins to reduce the delays and high fees of cross-border transfers of traditional banks.
5. Brazil: An effective means of remittances and cross-border trade
In Brazil, stablecoins are mainly used for remittances and commodity payments. Stablecoins provide a more convenient and lower-cost solution when processing cross-border remittances, which has led to an increasing use of them in Brazil. In particular, those companies and individuals who rely on cross-border trade have found that settlement through stablecoins can not only avoid the complex banking system, but also save a lot of transaction costs.
· Purpose: When Brazilian users remit money through stablecoins, they can avoid the high fees of traditional banks and enjoy faster arrival time. Therefore, stablecoins have gradually become the first choice for remittance tools. In addition, some Brazilian companies have begun to use stablecoins for cross-border trade settlement, especially when large amounts of funds are needed, and the use of stablecoins is more flexible than traditional financial instruments.
· Actual scenarios: For example, freelancers in Brazil receive payments from global customers through stablecoins, which greatly improves settlement efficiency and reduces currency exchange losses.
Fourth, the expansion of the use of stablecoins: from speculation to practical application
Stablecoins were originally used mainly for value storage and hedging tools in cryptocurrency transactions, but with the instability of the global economy, especially in some emerging markets, the use of stablecoins has gradually expanded to a wider range of practical application scenarios. The report data shows that users not only use stablecoins for savings, but also use them for various activities such as salary payment, commodity payment, exchange rate conversion, and income. This transformation shows the upgrade process of stablecoins from a purely speculative tool to an everyday financial tool.
(Questionnaire: The main purpose of users using stablecoins)
Aiying Aiying found that what was surprising about this questionnaire was that nearly half of the users used stablecoins mainly for cryptocurrency or NFT transactions, which shows that MeMe has played a great role in promoting the popularization of Web3 education.
(Main use scenarios in stablecoin applications)
· Paying for goods or services with stablecoins and international remittances with stablecoins (about 45%):These two applications are also very common, indicating that stablecoins are widely used for daily consumption and cross-border remittances, especially in scenarios where faster and cheaper payment methods are needed.
· Used for business transactions and salary payments:More than 30% of users have used stablecoins to process business transactions or salary payments, indicating that stablecoins are also being incorporated into financial management by companies and enterprises, especially in multinational companies and remote work scenarios.
In summary, it is mainly driven by the following factors:
1. Savings: Avoid currency depreciation and provide security for US dollar savings
An important use of stablecoins is to provide users with an alternative to US dollar savings, especially in countries where the local currency is experiencing depreciation pressure or inflation, stablecoins have become a safe haven. The report pointed out that about 47% of users choose to use stablecoins for US dollar savings to avoid wealth shrinkage due to the depreciation of local currencies.
User motivation: In high-inflation countries such as Nigeria and Turkey, users choose to deposit funds in stablecoins pegged to the US dollar to ensure that their wealth is not affected by the depreciation of their own currencies. Stablecoins provide a way to bypass the traditional banking system, allowing users to quickly store and use US dollars around the world.
Actual application scenarios: For example, users in Nigeria convert funds into USDT for storage instead of depositing them in their own bank accounts to avoid wealth losses caused by the depreciation of the Naira.
2. Earning income: Earn passive income through decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms
With the popularity of decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, more and more users are earning income by depositing stablecoins into DeFi protocols, similar to fixed deposits or investments in traditional finance. The report shows that 39% of users said they earn income through stablecoins, and this phenomenon is particularly prominent in emerging markets.
DeFi and income: DeFi platforms allow users to participate in liquidity mining or lending agreements by staking stablecoins, and then earn interest or token rewards. Compared with the low interest rates of the traditional banking system, DeFi protocols often offer higher annualized yields.
Actual application scenarios: Users in Turkey earn higher returns than traditional financial institutions by depositing USDT or USDC into DeFi protocols such as Aave or Compound, which is also a strategy to cope with the depreciation of local currencies.
3. Exchange rate conversion: efficient currency exchange tool
Stablecoins also provide users with more efficient exchange rate conversion services than traditional banking systems, especially in the field of cross-border payments or remittances. Traditional banks' foreign exchange conversion fees are high and the process is cumbersome, while using stablecoins for currency conversion is not only cheap but also allows for fast settlement.
User behavior: The report pointed out that 43% of users use stablecoins for currency conversion, especially when cross-border payments or international trade are required, the borderless nature of stablecoins makes it an ideal tool.
Actual application scenarios: Small and medium-sized enterprises in Indonesia use USDT or USDC for international payments, bypassing the foreign exchange conversion process and high fees of traditional banks, thereby completing transactions at a more favorable exchange rate. In addition, individual users also tend to use stablecoins for exchange when traveling overseas or making cross-border purchases, enjoying the convenience of instant settlement.
V. Profound impact on financial infrastructure
As the use of stablecoins expands rapidly around the world, especially in emerging markets, it has had a significant impact on traditional financial infrastructure. Stablecoins have not only changed the landscape of cross-border payments, but have also greatly improved financial inclusion, allowing more users to participate in the global economy. This change has brought new challenges and opportunities to the role and efficiency of the global financial system.
1. Cross-border payments: a more efficient and transparent payment method
Traditional cross-border payment systems often have cumbersome processes, long time, and high transaction fees due to the existence of intermediaries. This particularly affects individuals and businesses that rely on international trade and remittances, especially in developing countries, where such transactions may take days to complete and the fees are as high as several percentage points of the transaction amount.
Advantages of stablecoins: The decentralized nature of stablecoins eliminates many intermediaries, making cross-border payments more transparent, efficient, and low-cost. Through blockchain technology, stablecoins can complete the transfer of funds around the world in minutes, and the fees are only a fraction of traditional bank transfers. This is especially important in emerging markets, because users in many countries rely on remittances or international payments to make a living or conduct business.
Actual application scenarios: For example, individuals and businesses in Nigeria use stablecoins (such as USDT or USDC) to remit money to relatives or business partners abroad, which not only saves the cumbersome procedures of the banking system, but also avoids high foreign exchange conversion and transfer fees. Similarly, small and medium-sized enterprises in Indonesia use stablecoins for cross-border trade payments, which improves transaction efficiency and increases profit margins by reducing intermediary fees.
Eliminate the middle link: The application of stablecoins eliminates intermediaries in traditional finance such as banks and payment processing institutions, which greatly shortens the settlement time and enables funds to be cleared within a few minutes. Through the transparency of blockchain, all transactions can be tracked and verified in the public ledger, which enhances trust and transparency.
2. Financial inclusion: Providing opportunities for underserved groups
Financial inclusion has always been a challenge for the global financial system, especially in emerging markets, where many people do not have access to traditional banking services. These people may not be able to open a bank account or obtain loan and savings services due to lack of sufficient identification, credit history or living in remote areas.
Stablecoins lower the entry barrier: The application of stablecoins does not rely on traditional banking infrastructure. As long as users have an Internet connection and a crypto wallet, they can participate in global financial activities. It provides storage, transfer and payment methods for people who are excluded from the banking system in a decentralized way, enabling them to participate in the global economy.
Help from decentralized finance (DeFi): Stablecoins combined with decentralized finance (DeFi) further enhance financial inclusion. Users can obtain loans by staking stablecoins, or get returns on savings through DeFi protocols without the high deposits or credit assessments required by traditional banks.
Actual application scenarios: For example, users in Turkey and Nigeria bypass the restrictions of local banks through stablecoins and use stablecoins for savings and payments. At the same time, many immigrants working abroad use stablecoins to remit money to their families, and these funds can be quickly received by their families and used for daily consumption without going through expensive and inefficient remittance services. Many small businesses in India and Brazil also use stablecoins to pay international suppliers, avoiding the delays and fees of the traditional financial system.
3. Reduce financial exclusion
The traditional financial system often requires users to provide a lot of identification and credit records, which prevents a large number of low-income, unbanked or poorly credited individuals from participating in financial activities, especially in rural areas or areas with slow economic development. Stablecoins eliminate these barriers through blockchain technology and digital wallets, allowing financial services to reach previously excluded user groups.
The key to solving the problem: Stablecoins do not require complicated account opening procedures. Users only need to download a digital wallet to use stablecoins for financial activities such as storage, payment, and cross-border transfers. Most of these wallet applications can be used on smartphones, which is particularly important for emerging markets where mobile phone penetration rates are higher than bank account ownership rates.
Actual application scenarios: In remote areas of Indonesia and India, many users have obtained financial services through stablecoins, which was unimaginable before. Through mobile applications and stablecoins, they can deposit their savings in more stable digital dollars, avoid losses caused by currency depreciation, and participate in international trade and payments, thus breaking the long-term financial exclusion phenomenon.
VI. Stablecoin public chain: building a new cornerstone of the global payment network
The rapid popularization and widespread use of stablecoins in financial activities such as cross-border payments, savings, and remittances are inseparable from the powerful blockchain technology support behind them. Different blockchain platforms provide different speeds, costs, and security, which directly affects the user experience and the use scenarios of stablecoins. The following are several major blockchain platforms pointed out in the report and the digital wallet choices commonly used by users.
1. Mainstream blockchain platforms: balance of speed, cost and security
The issuance and trading of stablecoins are inseparable from the support of blockchain platforms. According to the report, Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain (BSC), Solana, and Tron are the most popular mainstream platforms for users to trade stablecoins. Each of these platforms has its own characteristics, and users choose them based on their specific needs, such as transaction speed, fees, platform security, etc.
Transaction volume of stablecoins on each chain (calculated on a monthly basis)
(Monthly active sending addresses of stablecoins on different chains)
(Change trend of monthly active sending addresses of stablecoins on each chain)
Ethereum:
Reasons for popularity: Ethereum is one of the earliest and most influential smart contract platforms, supporting the issuance of multiple stablecoins such as USDT, USDC and DAI. Although Ethereum's transaction fees (gas fees) are relatively high, its strong security and ecosystem have attracted a large number of users, especially for high-value transactions and applications on decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms.
Application scenarios: Users who trade stablecoins on Ethereum, especially when depositing and withdrawing income or participating in liquidity mining on DeFi protocols, tend to choose this platform because it provides a wealth of financial applications.
Binance Smart Chain (BSC):
Reasons for popularity: BSC is known for its low cost and high speed, especially in the case of large transaction volumes, attracting a large number of users who need to complete stablecoin transfers quickly. Compared with Ethereum, BSC has very low transaction fees, so it has an advantage in processing small payments and frequent transactions.
Application scenarios: Many small and medium-sized enterprises and individual users prefer to use BSC for stablecoin transactions, especially in cross-border payments or commodity purchases, its fast settlement and low fees are very attractive to cost-sensitive users.
Solana:
Reasons for popularity: Solana has become another popular choice for stablecoin transactions with its ultra-high transaction speed and extremely low transaction costs. Its ability to process thousands of transactions per second makes it an ideal platform for high-frequency transactions and large-scale payment scenarios.
Application scenarios: Solana is widely used in scenarios that require efficient payments and instant settlements, especially for cross-border e-commerce and large payment network users, which can greatly improve transaction efficiency.
Tron:
Reasons for popularity: Tron is known for its extremely low transaction fees and is the preferred platform for small payments and high-frequency trading users. The report pointed out that Tron has become an important choice for stablecoin users in many emerging markets because its transaction costs are almost zero and it can quickly process a large number of small transfers.
Application scenarios: Tron's low-fee structure is very suitable for daily remittances, payments, and frequent small transactions. Especially in developing countries such as Nigeria and Indonesia, users are more willing to use Tron for cross-border transfers and commodity payments of stablecoins.
2. Use of digital wallets: custodial and non-custodial options
In addition to blockchain platforms, digital wallets play a vital role in the storage and use of stablecoins. The report shows that users usually use exchange wallets and non-custodial wallets (self-custodial wallets) to manage their stablecoin assets.
(The most commonly used blockchain wallet by users)
Exchange Wallet:
Binance Wallet: As one of the world's largest cryptocurrency trading platforms, Binance provides users with convenient and secure exchange wallet services. Users can easily manage and transfer their stablecoin assets on the Binance platform, and trade and exchange various cryptocurrencies.
Trust Wallet: Trust Wallet is a mobile wallet associated with Binance that supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. It is known for its ease of use and support for a variety of blockchain assets, especially in emerging markets. It has a large user base. Users can use Trust Wallet to make payments, storage, and transfers on their mobile phones, which is convenient and fast.
Non-custodial wallets (self-custodial wallets):
MetaMask: MetaMask is one of the most commonly used non-custodial wallets, through which users can directly manage their private keys and have full control over their assets. MetaMask supports stablecoin transactions on Ethereum and other EVM-compatible chains, especially in the DeFi field, where users participate in decentralized financial activities such as lending and liquidity mining through MetaMask.
Advantages: Compared with exchange wallets, non-custodial wallets provide higher security and privacy. Users directly control their private keys and funds without having to rely on centralized exchanges, which is very important for many users who value asset security.
VII. User trust in stablecoins: Tether's dominance and the growth trend of stablecoins
As the application of stablecoins continues to expand around the world, users' trust in them has gradually increased, especially in actual needs such as combating currency fluctuations and facilitating cross-border payments. Stablecoins play a key role. The report particularly emphasizes the dominant position of Tether (USDT) in the stablecoin market. Despite the existence of other competitors, Tether is still the preferred stablecoin for users due to its extensive liquidity, long-term trust of users and huge market share.
(Changes in the market share of Tether (USDT) in the stablecoin supply)
1. Tether (USDT)’s Dominance
As the earliest stablecoin, Tether (USDT) not only has a long market history, but also has maintained a strong market share, becoming the world’s most traded stablecoin. According to the report data, Tether accounts for the majority of the total stablecoin supply, especially in emerging markets and global cryptocurrency exchanges, where Tether is widely used for transactions, savings and payments.
Liquidity advantage: Tether’s biggest advantage lies in its strong liquidity. Since Tether is pegged to the US dollar at a 1:1 ratio, users can easily exchange Tether for US dollars or other crypto assets. This convenient liquidity makes Tether the preferred tool for cryptocurrency traders and cross-border payment users. Whether it is high-frequency trading or large-value transfers, Tether can ensure rapid and stable settlement.
User trust: Users trust Tether mainly based on its long-term stable market performance. Although there have been doubts about the transparency of Tether’s reserves in the past, it has been widely recognized by users as the world’s most liquid stablecoin. In the global market, Tether's trading pairs cover most mainstream cryptocurrencies, allowing users to conveniently use Tether as an intermediary tool when trading.
Widely used network: Tether not only exists on multiple blockchains such as Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, and Tron, but is also supported by the vast majority of cryptocurrency exchanges and decentralized financial platforms around the world. Whether users are trading on centralized exchanges or participating in liquidity mining through DeFi protocols, Tether is almost everywhere. The report specifically pointed out that Tether's wide use network has kept its trust among users high.
2. Behind the trust in stablecoins: transparency and compliance
Users' trust in stablecoins also depends on the transparency and compliance of the issuer. In addition to its liquidity and long-term performance, Tether has been able to maintain its dominant position in the market because of its continued efforts to improve transparency and work with global regulators to ensure the legality and compliance of its operations.
Increased transparency: Although Tether has been questioned for its reserve issues, in recent years, Tether has increased the transparency of its reserves and regularly publishes audit reports to prove to users that its stablecoins are indeed fully backed by US dollar assets. This increase in transparency helps to enhance users' trust, especially under the supervision of regulators, users are more confident that the stablecoins they hold are safe.
Enhanced compliance: As the regulation of cryptocurrencies in countries around the world gradually strengthens, stablecoin issuers need to ensure that they comply with the legal requirements of various countries. Tether works with regulators in multiple jurisdictions to ensure that it can operate legally and provide reliable services to users. Strengthening compliance not only protects the interests of users, but also further enhances Tether's trust in the global market.
VIII. Regulatory challenges: Regulatory concerns caused by cross-border use and currency substitution
Although stablecoins play an increasingly important role in the global financial system, their widespread use has also attracted the attention of regulators in various countries. In particular, on the issue of cross-border transactions and currency substitution, the potential impact of stablecoins on sovereign currencies has become one of the focuses of regulatory discussions in various countries.
· Complexity of cross-border use: The cross-border use of stablecoins has provided unprecedented convenience for global users, but it has also brought considerable challenges to regulators in various countries. Traditional cross-border payments and fund transfers are subject to strict financial controls, and central banks and governments of various countries have clear regulatory provisions on capital flows. However, stablecoins bypass these traditional systems, allowing funds to flow freely across borders, weakening the central bank's ability to control capital flows. This rapid flow of capital may lead to capital flight, monetary policy failure, and potential threats to financial stability.
· Risk of substitution for sovereign currencies: The widespread use of stablecoins, especially US dollar stablecoins, has become a de facto "currency substitute" in many economically unstable countries. Due to their distrust of local currencies, users and companies store a large amount of assets in stablecoins, weakening the use and trust of their own currencies. This phenomenon is particularly evident in countries with high inflation. In the long run, it may pose a threat to the status of sovereign currencies and even lead to the destabilization of national monetary systems.
· Regulatory uncertainty: With the increasing use of stablecoins, regulators around the world have begun to take action to try to establish a clear regulatory framework for stablecoins. Although some countries such as the United States and the European Union have begun to discuss and formulate relevant regulatory laws and regulations, a unified regulatory standard has not yet been formed globally. How stablecoin issuers ensure the transparency of reserves, how to deal with the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing, and how to align with the regulatory frameworks of various countries are all key challenges that the stablecoin industry will face in the future.
· Actual cases: For example, the United States' Stablecoin Transparency Act and the European Union's Crypto-Assets Markets Act (MiCA) have begun to establish transparency requirements and reserve audit systems for stablecoin issuers. At the same time, some emerging market countries are considering restricting the circulation of stablecoins by strengthening the regulation of their own currencies. In the future, the compliance issues of global stablecoins will determine whether they can continue to expand rapidly and their legitimacy in the financial system.
Report link: https://castleisland.vc/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/stablecoins_the_emerging_market_story_091224.pdf
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
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