2025 年 8 月 12 日，纽约曼哈顿联邦法庭内，身穿黄色囚服的 Do Kwon 缓缓起身。 多年的逃亡和牢狱生涯让他曾经圆润的脸颊变得消瘦许多，发型也变成了囚犯们统一的圆寸。那双曾经在镜头前闪闪发光的眼睛，如今透出的只有疲态。 这个 33 岁的韩国男人，曾是加密世界的宠儿，如今是历史最大金融欺诈案的主角。 法庭素描上，Do Kwon 低着头，双手紧握。他认罪说到："2021 年，我就 TerraUSD 重新锚定的原因做出了虚假和误导性陈述。我所做的是错误的，我想 为我的行为道歉。" 如今，他面临长年监禁及巨额罚款，但对于那些因他而损失了 400 亿美元的数十万投资者来说，这远远不够。 时间是最残酷的审判官，它不仅改变了 Do Kwon 的外貌，更彻底摧毁了他曾经拥有的一切。 检察官 Damian Williams 在庭外表示，这次认罪是"对加密货币欺诈案件执法的重要里程碑"。但"里程碑"这个词听起来太冰冷了，它无法重组那些破碎的 家庭，无法安慰那些失去一切的老人，更无法挽救那些选择结束生命的年轻人。 1991 年 9 月 6 日，Do Hyeong Kwon 在首尔的医院里发出第一声啼哭，没人预料到这个 ...

Core Viewpoint - Do Kwon, the notorious former cryptocurrency mogul, pleaded guilty to two fraud charges in a New York federal court, marking a significant development in the aftermath of the collapse of the algorithmic stablecoin TerraUSD (UST) and its sister coin Luna, which resulted in a loss of over $40 billion in market value within a week in May 2022 [1][2][5]. Group 1: Collapse of TerraUSD and Luna - The algorithmic stablecoin TerraUSD was designed without backing from fiat currency or physical assets, relying instead on a dual-token system with Luna to maintain its price peg [2]. - The mechanism depended heavily on participant confidence, and once a significant funding gap occurred, the stablecoin's de-pegging became inevitable, leading to a "death spiral" as Luna's price plummeted [2][3]. - Within just five days, Luna's price fell from $80 to nearly worthless, and TerraUSD never regained its peg [3] Group 2: Impact on the Cryptocurrency Market - The collapse of TerraUSD and Luna ended the preceding cryptocurrency bull market, causing numerous crypto companies to go bankrupt, with Bitcoin's price dropping from $69,000 to $16,000 over the course of nearly a year [5]. Group 3: Legal Proceedings and Guilty Plea - After going into hiding following the collapse, Do Kwon was arrested in Montenegro in March 2023 while attempting to flee with a fake passport [7]. - His guilty plea signifies a decision to cease resistance against prosecutors, where he admitted to intentionally deceiving cryptocurrency buyers and acknowledged the fraudulent nature of his statements regarding TerraUSD's ability to self-recover [8]. - As part of a plea agreement, Do Kwon pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of wire fraud, with prosecutors seeking a sentence of no more than 12 years, although he could face up to 25 years if the maximum sentence is imposed [8][9].

Core Viewpoint - Do Kwon, the notorious former cryptocurrency mogul, pleaded guilty to two fraud charges in a New York federal court, marking a significant development in the aftermath of the collapse of the algorithmic stablecoin TerraUSD and its sister coin Luna, which resulted in over $40 billion in market value evaporating within a week [1][5]. Group 1: Background of the Collapse - The algorithmic stablecoin TerraUSD (UST) was designed without backing from fiat currency or physical assets, relying instead on a dual-token system with Luna to maintain its price peg [2]. - The mechanism depended heavily on participant confidence and funds, leading to a predictable failure when large-scale withdrawals occurred, resulting in UST losing its peg [2][3]. - Within just five days, Luna's price plummeted from $80 to nearly worthless, and TerraUSD never regained its peg [4]. Group 2: Legal Proceedings and Consequences - Following the collapse, Do Kwon went into hiding but was arrested in Montenegro while attempting to flee with a fake passport [6]. - In court, Do Kwon admitted to intentionally misleading investors about TerraUSD's ability to recover its peg, acknowledging that his statements were false and potentially illegal [7]. - As part of a plea agreement, Do Kwon pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of wire fraud, with prosecutors seeking a sentence of no more than 12 years, although he could face up to 25 years if the maximum penalty is imposed [7].

Core Viewpoint - The stability of stablecoins remains uncertain, necessitating careful observation and regulation to ensure their role in the digital economy [1] Group 1: Historical Context - In 2017, USDT faced a trust crisis due to doubts about its reserve authenticity, highlighting the vulnerabilities of stablecoins in their early development [1] - USDC, known for its transparency and compliance, encountered a crisis in March 2023 when part of its reserves was held in Silicon Valley Bank, leading to a temporary run on the coin following the bank's collapse [1] Group 2: Regulatory Considerations - The challenges faced by both fiat-backed and algorithmic stablecoins underscore the need for regulatory oversight, given their public good attributes [1] - The current enthusiasm for stablecoins should be approached with caution, balancing the benefits and risks while fostering a healthy ecosystem for digital economic development [1]

Core Viewpoint - The signing of the "Genius Act" marks the establishment of a clear legal framework for stablecoins in the U.S., ending their previous ambiguous legal status and reshaping the industry landscape [1][4][26] Group 1: Definition and Regulatory Framework - The "Genius Act" defines compliant stablecoins as "payment stablecoins," emphasizing their role as payment or settlement tools rather than investment products [4][5] - This definition excludes stablecoins from being classified as legal tender, bank deposits, financial securities, or commodities, thus simplifying the regulatory path for issuers [4][5] - The act signals that compliant stablecoins will be recognized as legitimate financial payment tools, moving away from being seen as risk assets [4][5] Group 2: Market Dynamics and Participants - The act creates a new power structure where traditional financial institutions, particularly banks, will dominate the issuance of stablecoins [9][10] - Only "insured depository institutions" and "regulated non-bank entities" can issue stablecoins, favoring established banks like JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and Bank of America [9][10] - Non-financial giants like Amazon and Meta face significant barriers to entering the stablecoin market, as the act restricts issuance to companies primarily engaged in financial services [12][24] Group 3: Compliance and Cost Implications - The act imposes strict compliance requirements, including a 1:1 reserve mechanism and monthly audits, significantly increasing operational costs for stablecoin issuers [17][18] - The previous practices of leveraging reserves for additional returns will be curtailed, as only high-liquid assets like cash and short-term U.S. Treasury securities can be used [17][18] - Smaller firms may struggle to meet the new compliance standards, leading to a market dominated by larger institutions [13][18] Group 4: Opportunities for Web3 Infrastructure - The new regulatory environment presents significant opportunities for Web3 infrastructure providers, as banks seek to develop their own stablecoins [19][26] - Companies like Alchemy and Fireblocks are positioned to offer essential services to banks, potentially leading to a booming market for Web3 infrastructure, projected to reach $55 billion by 2033 [19][26] Group 5: Future of Existing Stablecoins - Tether's USDT faces compliance challenges under the new act, as it must secure regulatory approval to continue operating in the U.S. market [22][23] - The act mandates that stablecoin issuers must back their tokens with cash and short-term U.S. Treasury securities, which may be difficult for Tether to achieve given its current asset composition [23][24] - Algorithmic stablecoins are temporarily excluded from the regulatory framework, with further research required to assess their risks and potential uses [24][25]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly state an investment rating for the stablecoin industry [1]. Core Insights - The stablecoin sector has experienced rapid growth globally, with various types of stablecoins catering to different customer needs [7][9]. - Stablecoins are primarily driven by the need for stability in the volatile cryptocurrency market, offering higher efficiency in cross-border payments compared to traditional banking systems [12][18]. - Regulatory frameworks for stablecoins are evolving, with many countries exploring how to legislate and regulate these digital assets [7][9]. Summary by Sections 1. Reasons for Stablecoin Development - The cryptocurrency market requires stability due to inherent volatility [12]. - Stablecoins provide higher efficiency, especially in cross-border transactions, with lower fees compared to traditional banking methods [18]. - Specific regions, such as Argentina and Russia, show increased demand for stablecoins due to economic instability and sanctions [21]. 2. Types and Project Introductions of Stablecoins - Stablecoins can be categorized into three main types: 1. Fiat or asset-backed stablecoins (e.g., USDT, USDC) 2. Crypto-collateralized stablecoins (e.g., DAI) 3. Algorithmic stablecoins (e.g., FRAX) [33][67]. - Fiat-backed stablecoins dominate the market, with USDT and USDG accounting for nearly 90% of the USD stablecoin market [35]. 3. Regulation and Future Development of Stablecoins - Regulatory bodies like the Basel Committee and the Financial Stability Board are working on frameworks to enhance the oversight of stablecoins [103][104]. - Different countries have varying approaches to stablecoin regulation, with some like the EU implementing comprehensive regulations under the MiCA framework [114][115]. - The report highlights the importance of transparency and compliance in the stablecoin sector, with major players like USDC emphasizing regular reserve audits [47][49].