Bank of Canada lays out criteria for ‘good money’ stablecoins

cointelegraphPublished on 2025-12-17Last updated on 2025-12-17

Abstract

The Bank of Canada has outlined its criteria for "good money" stablecoins under upcoming regulations expected in 2026. Governor Tiff Macklem stated that stablecoins must be pegged 1:1 to a central bank currency and backed by high-quality liquid assets like Treasury bills. Issuers will be required to hold sufficient reserves, establish redemption policies, and implement risk management frameworks. These rules aim to modernize Canada's financial system, making digital transactions faster and more secure. The move follows similar regulatory developments in the US, UK, and Hong Kong. Canada is also developing a real-time payments system and an open banking framework but has shelved plans for a central bank digital currency.

The Bank of Canada has signaled it will only approve high-quality stablecoins tied to central bank currencies to ensure stablecoins serve as “good money” under the country’s upcoming stablecoin regulations, expected in 2026.

“We want stablecoins to be good money, like bank notes or money on deposit at banks,” Governor Tiff Macklem told the Montreal Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.

Stablecoins should be pegged 1:1 to fiat: Macklem

Macklem wants the stablecoins to be pegged at a one-to-one ratio to a central bank currency and backed by “high-quality liquid assets” that can be easily converted into cash. Such assets typically include Treasury bills and government bonds.

His comments follow Canada’s lengthy 2025 budget report, published early November, which said stablecoin issuers would be required to hold sufficient reserves, establish redemption policies, and implement various risk management frameworks, including measures to protect personal and financial data.

Macklem speaking at the Montreal Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday. Source: Bank of Canada

Canada is one of several countries looking to modernize its financial system by making digital transactions faster, cheaper, and more secure for its more than 40 million people.

“The goal is to ensure Canadians can leverage the innovation of stablecoins and do so safely,” Macklem said.

Coinbase Canada CEO Lucas Matheson told CBC last month that the proposed stablecoin rules would “change how Canadians interact with money and the internet forever.”

Canada’s stablecoin plan to complement banking

Stablecoin regulatory momentum in Canada picked up after the US passed the GENIUS Act in mid-July, seen as one of the most comprehensive stablecoin frameworks to date.

The UK and Hong Kong have also moved forward with stablecoin rules in recent months.

Related: UK regulator consults on crypto rules for exchanges, lending and DeFi

The stablecoin market currently sits at $313.6 billion, with the US Treasury estimating in April that it would reach $2 trillion by 2028.

Canada is also establishing a “Real-Time Rail” payments system to facilitate instant settlements between businesses and consumers, along with an open banking framework that will enable people to switch banks more easily.

Meanwhile, Canada scrapped plans to issue a central bank digital currency in September 2024, with Macklem stating at the time that there wasn’t a compelling case to move forward with it.

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**Summary: The Value Distribution of Stablecoins** The article argues that stablecoins are evolving from mere trading tools into broader channels for dollar access. It divides the stablecoin ecosystem into four layers to analyze how value is distributed: 1. **Issuance Layer:** Mints stablecoins, holds reserve assets, and captures the spread between reserve yield and user costs (e.g., Tether, Circle). This layer currently earns the largest profit margin. 2. **Infrastructure Layer:** Connects stablecoins to the traditional financial system, handling fiat on/off-ramps, banking integration, compliance (KYC/AML), and asset management (e.g., Bridge, BVNK). This is the "unglamorous" but critical work, building the essential bridges between crypto and real-world finance. 3. **Acquiring/Distribution Layer:** Integrates stablecoins into merchant systems, manages payment flows, and provides enterprise financial software (e.g., Stripe, Coinbase). They act as the access point for businesses. 4. **Application Layer:** The end-users and businesses that ultimately use stablecoins for payments, settlements, or as a store of value. They benefit from convenience but have little pricing power. The core thesis is that while the issuance layer currently dominates profits, the often-overlooked **infrastructure layer holds significant long-term potential**. The real challenge and barrier to mass adoption is not the on-chain transfer of stablecoins (which is simple), but the complex "last mile" integration into existing business workflows, banking systems, and regulatory frameworks across different countries. Companies in this layer are currently in a "land grab" phase, investing heavily to build networks, secure bank partnerships, and establish compliance pathways. While their position is currently pressured by the profitable issuers above and distribution platforms below, the article suggests that if stablecoins become a default financial rail for businesses, the infrastructure providers who have done the hard work of integration will ultimately gain strong pricing power and become entrenched, essential players.

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The Value Distribution of Stablecoins The article argues that stablecoins are evolving from a mere trading tool into a broad "dollar channel." It analyzes the industry's value chain through four layers: 1. **Issuance Layer (e.g., Tether, Circle):** The top layer that mints stablecoins, holds reserve assets, and captures the thickest interest rate spread. 2. **Infrastructure Layer (e.g., Bridge, BVNK):** Connects stablecoins to the traditional financial system, handling critical but complex "dirty work" like fiat on/off-ramps, banking integration, compliance (KYC/AML), and cross-border settlement. 3. **Acquiring/Distribution Layer (e.g., Stripe, Coinbase):** Embeds stablecoins into merchant systems, manages payment flows, and integrates with enterprise software. 4. **Application Layer:** End-users and businesses that ultimately use stablecoins for payments, settlement, or storing value. The author posits that while the issuance layer currently captures the most profit, the most overlooked and potentially critical layer is infrastructure. The core challenge for stablecoin adoption isn't the on-chain transfer (which is simple), but bridging the gap between blockchain and the real-world financial system. This involves solving practical problems for businesses: fiat conversion, reconciliation, tax handling, and user onboarding. Infrastructure companies are currently in a difficult "land-grab" phase—building networks, securing banking relationships, and achieving compliance country-by-country. They face pressure from both the profitable issuance layer above and distribution platforms below. However, the author suggests this layer is building a crucial moat. Once stablecoins become a default business rail, the infrastructure players who have done the hard work of integration may gain significant, durable value and pricing power.

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