EU Watchdog Warns of “Urgent” Stablecoin Threat, Citing Systemic Shock Risk – Why?

Core Viewpoint - The European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) has raised concerns about the potential threats posed by stablecoins to financial stability, urging for immediate policy action to address vulnerabilities in multi-issuer stablecoin models [1][3][4] Group 1: Stablecoin Market Overview - The stablecoin market has grown significantly over the past five years, now valued at over $300 billion, with dollar-backed tokens dominating the sector, particularly Tether's USDT, which holds more than 58% market share [2] - Euro-backed stablecoins represent a minimal portion of the market, accounting for only 0.15% of the global total [2] Group 2: Regulatory Concerns and Recommendations - The ESRB highlighted vulnerabilities in "third country multi-issuer" stablecoin models, where EU-regulated issuers must maintain reserves locally while non-EU partners manage identical tokens backed abroad, creating potential risks during financial stress [3][4] - A recommendation to ban such multi-issuer models was endorsed by the ESRB, which, while non-binding, pressures EU authorities to consider restrictions or alternative protections [4] Group 3: Financial Stability Risks - Lagarde has drawn parallels between the risks associated with stablecoins and past banking crises, emphasizing the need for strong equivalence regimes and safeguards for cross-border transfers to prevent destabilization [5] - The ESRB has noted that elevated global financial risks, driven by investor optimism and high asset valuations, leave markets vulnerable to potential reversals [5][6] - Ongoing geopolitical tensions and changing trade policies are additional challenges impacting Europe's financial outlook, despite stress tests indicating resilience among European banks [6]