Banks Advance Plans to Create Stablecoins as Bank for International Settlements Questions Their Role
While the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) argues that stablecoins lack key properties to function as money at scale, major global banks are actively developing their own stablecoin plans on public blockchains. BIS head Pablo Hernández de Cos advocates for tokenized bank deposits as a superior foundation for modern digital payments, citing issues with stablecoins regarding uniformity, interoperability, and financial integrity. These problems include exchange rate fluctuations between different stablecoins, settlement complexities across fragmented blockchains, and anonymity concerns.
Despite these warnings, a consortium of over a dozen major banks, including Bank of America and Citi, is preparing to launch a bank-issued stablecoin. This shift is driven by competitive pressure and regulatory changes like the GENIUS Act, with banks fearing potential deposit outflows to crypto-native issuers. Data shows stablecoin transaction volumes are massive, but a small fraction represents real-economy payments. While central banks prefer tokenized deposits for core payments, commercial banks increasingly see a strategic need for stablecoins to retain relevance, even as some, like JPMorgan, currently deny having imminent launch plans.
cryptonews.ruYesterday 12:34