Blockchain could be headed for ‘ChatGPT moment’ in adoption: Citigroup
Regulatory adjustments may very well be the catalyst to spark important adoption of stablecoins and blockchain tech in 2025, in response to funding banking big Citigroup.
“2025 has the potential to be blockchain’s ‘ChatGPT’ second for adoption within the monetary and public sector, pushed by regulatory change,” a staff of Citigroup monetary analysts said in an April 23 report.
A mix of rising regulatory help and adoption by monetary establishments has set the stage for the stablecoin market cap to fly as excessive as $3.7 trillion by 2030, or in a base case, $1.6 trillion.
“The principle catalyst for his or her higher acceptance could also be regulatory readability within the US, which may allow higher integration of stablecoins particularly, and blockchain extra broadly, into the prevailing monetary system,” Citi stated in its report.
“The tailwinds of regulatory help and the elevated integration of digital property into incumbent monetary establishments are setting the scene for elevated utilization of stablecoins.”
On the heels of US President Donald Trump’s crypto-friendly administration assuming power earlier this 12 months, lawmakers are weighing stablecoin laws, such because the GENIUS Act, which seeks to control US stablecoins, guaranteeing their authorized use for funds.
A US regulatory framework for stablecoin would additionally help demand for greenback risk-free property inside and out of doors the US, in response to the report.
“The stablecoin issuers should purchase US Treasuries, or comparable low danger property, towards every stablecoin as a measure of getting secure underlying collateral,” Citi stated.
“Stablecoin issuers may maintain extra US Treasuries by 2030 than any single jurisdiction right this moment.”
US will proceed to dominate stablecoins
Sooner or later, Citi predicts the stablecoin provide will stay US dollar-denominated, with non-US nations selling nationwide forex or a central bank digital currency.
In April, the stablecoin market cap had crossed $230 billion, an increase of 54% since last year, with Tether (USDT) and USDC (USDC) dominating 90% of the market.
“Whereas the greenback’s dominance could evolve over time, with the euro or different currencies being promoted by nationwide laws, stablecoins could also be seen by many non-US coverage makers as an instrument of greenback hegemony,” Citi stated.
“Geopolitics stay fluid. Ought to the world proceed to float right into a multi-polar system it’s probably that policymakers in China and Europe will probably be eager to advertise central financial institution digital currencies (CBDCs) or stablecoins issued in their very own forex.”
Nonetheless, there are nonetheless some challenges forward for the market. The stablecoin market cap may settle round $500 billion if “adoption and integration challenges persist.”
Depegging has additionally been flagged as a possible situation, with 1,900 cases in 2023, in response to Citi, together with the key USDC depeg following the collapse of Silicon Valley Financial institution.
“A serious depegging occasion would probably dampen crypto market liquidity, set off automated liquidations, impair buying and selling platforms’ capacity to satisfy redemptions, and doubtlessly have broader contagion results for the monetary system,” the agency stated.
