新宏睿创始人夏宇宸：从加密地带到金融基础设施，逐渐清晰的监管路径正重塑稳定币生态

Core Insights - Stablecoins are gaining mainstream recognition in the financial narrative, supported by regulatory frameworks like the GENIUS Act in the US and the Stablecoin Ordinance in Hong Kong [1] - Circle, as the first publicly traded stablecoin company, saw its market capitalization exceed $50 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 120, indicating high market expectations for growth [1][5] - The primary revenue model for major stablecoin issuers is interest arbitrage, with Circle projected to earn $1.56 billion in interest income in 2024, constituting 99% of its total revenue [3] Business Models - Major stablecoin issuers primarily profit from interest arbitrage by investing dollar reserves into low-risk, interest-bearing assets like US Treasury bonds [3] - Tether, the largest stablecoin issuer, reported profits exceeding $13 billion, primarily from similar investment strategies [3] Market Position - Tether holds a significant first-mover advantage, capturing 60%-70% of the market share since its launch in 2014, while USDC, launched in 2018, holds about 20%-24% [4] - USDC emphasizes compliance and transparency, which has attracted regulated entities, but its market penetration is limited in less regulated environments [4] Regulatory Environment - The scarcity of stablecoin licenses in Hong Kong may increase their value, similar to the experience with virtual bank licenses [6] - Over-regulation could stifle innovation and push issuers to less regulated regions, potentially limiting the value of licenses [6] Application Scenarios - The most promising application scenarios for licensed stablecoin issuers include cross-border payments and decentralized finance (DeFi), due to their scalability and cost-effectiveness [7] - Cross-border payments are highlighted as the most certain application, with USDC significantly reducing transaction times and costs compared to traditional methods [7] Impact on Financial Institutions - Traditional financial institutions, particularly banks, may face revenue restructuring as stablecoins could replace some cross-border payment services [9] - Stablecoins enhance financial inclusion, especially in developing regions, while market power may concentrate among compliant institutions due to regulatory barriers [10] Future Trends - The emergence of multi-currency and multi-asset stablecoins could lead to a digital currency exchange rate system, potentially replicating international monetary dynamics [11] - The dominance of the US dollar in stablecoins may persist unless non-dollar stablecoins achieve significant scale, with central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) adding complexity to the competitive landscape [11]