BIS Tightens Rules for Stablecoins, Targeting Permissionless Ones Like USDT and USDC

The new regulations introduce significant uncertainty for the stablecoin market. We just recovered from a brutal market downturn, but it seems like the next storm is already here.

The Bank of International Settlements (BIS) has announced new guidelines that will impact the stablecoin market. The guidelines introduce stricter criteria for certain stablecoins to receive preferential regulatory treatment, with a focus on those issued on permissionless blockchains. This move is set to have a significant impact on the stablecoin landscape.

The Impact on Major Stablecoins

In the first half of 2024, the crypto market experienced substantial growth. The total market cap reached around $2.27 trillion, indicating a 37.3% increase year-to-date. Notably, most of these gains occurred in the first quarter, with a 60.2% rise, while the second quarter experienced a 14.3% drop.

Meanwhile, the stablecoin market also recovered, reaching a market cap of $161 billion as of June 30, 2024, hitting a two-year high.

A Crackdown is Coming!

On July 17, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision released its final disclosure report on banks’ crypto-asset exposure. This report mandates banks to disclose their crypto activities and liquidity requirements. It also introduces stricter criteria for certain stablecoins to receive preferential “Group 1b” regulatory treatment, effective January 1, 2026. This could heavily impact permissionless stablecoins such as USDT and USDC.

The Industry Reacts

Reacting to this news, Custodia Bank’s CEO, Caitlin Long, highlighted that permissionless stablecoins are now excluded from use by banks, with a preference for permissioned stablecoins. She speculated that the United States might ignore this directive, despite BIS’s previous leadership in the crypto sector.

In response, the crypto enthusiast known as the Vitruvian Man suggested that banks would not easily relinquish their power and control over financial systems. He speculated that their strategy is to use permissioned blockchains to maintain dominance.

Is this surprising? The banks are not going to let go of their advantage. Permissioned blockchain is the only way to keep power. The banks and governments will roll out the tanks before relinquishing control. It’s naive to think otherwise

He believes that banks and governments would take extreme measures to retain control, making it unrealistic to expect them to allow decentralized, permissionless blockchain systems to flourish willingly.

Public vs. Private Blockchains

At Coinbase's State of Crypto event, BlackRock's Head of Digital Assets expressed a preference for public blockchains over private ones. However, the BIS’s new guidelines support permissioned stablecoins like JPMCoin, potentially threatening permissionless stablecoins.

The Implications? Huge.

The BIS decision comes as the Hong Kong Monetary Authority releases consultation papers on a licensing regime for stablecoin issuers. Moreover, Fox Business reporter Eleanor Terrett noted that initial proposals included USDC and others for preferential treatment. However, the final guidance excludes all stablecoins issued on permissionless blockchains, posing a serious threat to many stablecoins.

This is a key moment for the crypto industry. The decisions made now will shape its trajectory for years to come.