- A new Bank for International Settlements (BIS) paper argues dollar-pegged stablecoins will likely reinforce the US dollar’s dominance rather than disrupt the global monetary system.
- Most stablecoin activity originates not from retail use but from bots and intra-exchange trading, with real volumes being a fraction of reported figures.
- The trajectory is significant, with the number of active stablecoins exploding and infrastructure investments like Mastercard‘s $1.8 billion acquisition of BVNK accelerating the sector’s buildout.
A recent analysis from the Bank for International Settlements warns that the rise of stablecoins poses significant implications for emerging market economies. With 98% of their value denominated in US dollars, researchers concluded these digital assets are set to strengthen current currency hierarchies.
However, their present use for cross-border payments is minimal. Real transaction volumes, once adjusted for artificial activity, represent only about 1% of headline values. Consequently, claims of widespread retail adoption for remittances currently lack supporting evidence.
Meanwhile, the sector is experiencing foundational growth following last year’s US elections. The number of active stablecoins has nearly quadrupled, pushing the total market capitalization above $300 billion.
Significant capital is flowing into related payments infrastructure globally. For instance, Mastercard completed a $1.8 billion acquisition of the payments firm BVNK in March. The BIS paper ultimately outlines scenarios ranging from marginal to transformative impacts on the international monetary system.
✅ Follow BITNEWSBOT on Telegram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X.com, and Google News for instant updates.
