The U.S. Treasury acknowledged a boom in blockchain use and cryptocurrency investment in its Fiscal Year 2024 Q4 report. Stablecoins, fiat-pegged tokens like Tether (USDT) and Circle’s (USDC) have developed into key players in this digital economy,
The United States Treasury has highlighted the potential impact of stablecoin adoption and cryptocurrency volatility on the demand for T-Bills in its Fiscal Year 2024 Q4 report.
According to the Treasury, the growth of stablecoins, which are fiat-pegged tokens designed to provide less volatile currencies for crypto traders and investors, has played a key role in the booming blockchain use and cryptocurrency investment during the fiscal year.
Stablecoins, such as Tether (USDT) and Circle’s (USDC), have become the dominant trading pairs for cryptocurrencies, reportedly comprising 80% of all digital asset transactions.
"Stable cash-like tokens provide less volatile currencies for crypto traders and investors, and crypto-stablecoin pairs comprise 80% of digital asset transactions," the report reads.
In turn, stablecoin issuers have largely opted to hold short-term Treasury Bills as the bulk of their token reserves.
"Stablecoin issuers hold short-term Treasury Bills as the bulk of token reserves (e.g., 63% of Tether's $120 billion token rests in T-Bills), and crypto operators have bought $120 billion of Treasuries for stablecoin reserves," the Treasury noted.
While crypto proponents generally view stablecoins as a positive development, the Treasury anticipates that the inherent volatility and risk of crypto will field a “flight-to-quality demand for Treasuries.”
"Fiat-pegged cryptos could see more adoption with further digital asset uptrend," the report states. However, federal government researchers argue that crypto's volatility and risk will field a "flight-to-quality demand for Treasuries."
The report adds that structural demand for Treasuries may increase as the digital asset market cap grows, both as a hedge against downside price volatility and as an on-chain safe-haven asset.
"Demand for U.S. government debt is driven by several structural factors, including the role of Treasuries as a safe-haven asset during periods of market turbulence or uncertainty," the Treasury explained.
"For example, investors' flight-to-quality during the COVID-19 pandemic and crypto downturn led to a surge in T-Bill demand and drove yields lower (prices higher)."
The report also highlights the growing regulatory attention toward stablecoins in the U.S., where bi-partisan negotiations have progressed toward bills that would introduce stablecoin legislation.
According to speculators, the legislation could include provisions that would allow banks to issue assets like USDT, opening up new possibilities for the stablecoin sector.
"Stablecoins have also spurred regulatory scrutiny, with bi-partisan negotiations progressing toward bills that would introduce stablecoin legislation," the report noted.
"For example, speculators say lawmakers may allow banks to issue assets like USDT."
The stablecoin landscape has seen several noteworthy developments recently, including the launch of RLUSD by blockchain giant Ripple and reports that even Trump’s World Liberty Finance is exploring the possibility of introducing a stablecoin.
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