Stablecoins boosting demand for US T-bills: Treasury Dept

As a researcher with a background in finance and a keen interest in blockchain technology, I find the recent developments surrounding stablecoins and Treasury bills intriguing. Having closely followed the evolution of cryptocurrencies, I’ve seen firsthand how they’ve disrupted traditional financial systems.


As a researcher, I’ve noticed an uptick in the appeal of short-term U.S. government securities, specifically Treasury bills, due to the growing interest in stablecoins. This insight comes from the minutes of a US Department of the Treasury meeting, released on October 30th.

During a discussion on October 29th, the US Treasury’s Borrowing Advisory Committee evaluated the advantages of incorporating stablecoins and the tokenization of Treasury bills. One participant proposed the development of a controlled blockchain platform specifically for T-bills, according to the meeting minutes.

U.S. government officials’ recent remarks suggest a growing willingness to incorporate blockchain technology significantly within the American financial sector.

As an analyst, I’ve observed that the majority of stablecoin collateral is believed to be made up of either Treasury bills or Treasury-backed repurchase agreements. Consequently, it seems plausible that the rise in stablecoins has led to a slight uptick in the demand for short-dated U.S. Treasury securities.

Stablecoins boosting demand for US T-bills: Treasury Dept

The committee suggested that tokenizing T-bills might bring about operational efficiencies and innovation within the Treasury market, yet it may potentially threaten financial stability as well.

One member suggested that “tokenization in the Treasury market would likely require the development of a privately controlled and permissioned blockchain managed by a trusted government authority.”

Stablecoins — tokens pegged to the US dollar — are emerging as the core infrastructure for trading and payments.

The total value of stablecoins reached unprecedented peaks in the year 2024, currently hovering around $180 million as reported by CoinMarketCap.

Tether (USDT) dominates among stablecoins with a market capitalization of $120 billion.

The digital currency US Dollar Coin issued by Circle holds the position of being the second largest, boasting an estimated market capitalization of around 35 billion USD, as reported by CoinMarketCap.

Currently, tokenized versions of tangible assets such as government bonds and artwork constitute a potential worldwide market worth around $30 trillion, as stated by Colin Butler, Head of Institutional Capital at Polygon, during his conversation with CryptoMoon in August.

Demand is surging for products that tokenize T-bills and other highly liquid yield-bearing assets.

Two funds with substantial assets – BlackRock’s USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL) and Franklin OnChain US Government Money Fund (FOBXX) – are among the most significant, managing assets worth around $530 million and $410 million each.

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2024-10-30 23:08