Moody’s warns of hidden risks behind $300B stablecoin boom

Core Insights - The stablecoin market, valued at $300 billion, is facing significant challenges as research from Moody's highlights a disconnect between perception and reality regarding their stability [2][3] Group 1: Market Dynamics - Stablecoins are designed to maintain a stable value, pegged 1:1 to stable assets like fiat or gold, but recent events have shown vulnerabilities in this structure [1][2] - Incidents such as the FTX collapse in 2022 and USDC's temporary depeg due to exposure to Silicon Valley Bank illustrate that stablecoins, despite being fiat-backed, are still credit-like instruments reliant on the quality of reserves and issuer governance [3][4] Group 2: Regulatory Environment - Most stablecoin issuers operate outside traditional regulatory frameworks, lacking prudential capital requirements and consistent reporting standards, which increases operational risks [5][6] - New regulations, such as the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) law in Europe and the U.S. GENIUS Act, aim to enhance disclosures and reserve management, while the Financial Conduct Authority and the Bank of England will begin direct supervision of stablecoin issuers [6] Group 3: Growth Potential - Despite the identified risks, the stablecoin sector is experiencing rapid growth, with total capitalization expected to exceed $300 billion by late 2025, doubling within a year, and an annual settlement volume projected at $9 trillion [7]