Wall Street Bank Citi Sees Stablecoins Powering Crypto’s Next Growth Phase

Core Insights - Citi has raised its 2030 market cap outlook for stablecoins to $1.9 trillion, reflecting growth in the crypto market since the passage of the GENIUS Act in July [1] - Stablecoins account for 5%–10% of the total cryptocurrency market capitalization and are primarily used as an on-ramp to crypto [1] Market Dynamics - Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to assets like the U.S. dollar or gold, playing a crucial role in payment infrastructure and international money transfers [2] - Tether's USDT is the largest stablecoin, followed by Circle's USDC [2] Banking Impact - The impact of stablecoins on bank deposits is expected to be modest, with potential shifts in funding costs and lending appetites, similar to the rise of money market funds in the 1980s [3] - The stablecoin boom has increased activity on the Ethereum blockchain, although this dominance may diminish as issuers create their own networks [3] Adoption Drivers - The primary driver for stablecoin adoption is their role as a "store of value" in emerging markets facing inflation or weak institutions, which may increase demand for dollar assets [4] - Payments remain a niche use case, primarily involving small transactions [4] Regulatory Landscape - The U.S. dollar continues to dominate the stablecoin market, but euro-denominated stablecoins are beginning to gain traction [5] - New regulations in Hong Kong could significantly reshape the stablecoin landscape outside the U.S. [5]