Bank of England official: Stablecoins may reinforce dollar dominance and increase demand for US Treasuries

Odaily News: Carolyn Wilkins, a member of the Bank of England (BoE) Financial Policy Committee, said that the growth of dollar stablecoins could reinforce the dollar's global dominance and increase demand for US Treasuries. Speaking at Queen's University Belfast, she noted that dollar stablecoins can facilitate cross-border settlement and expand access to dollar-denominated assets outside the United States.

Tether, the issuer of USDT, and fintech company Circle, the issuer of USDC, held nearly $150 billion in US Treasuries by the end of 2025 and bought about $33 billion that year. Wilkins pointed out that large-scale stablecoin redemptions could force issuers to sell Treasuries, thereby amplifying volatility in stressed markets.

Total stablecoin circulation has now exceeded $300 billion, with 98% of that value pegged to the US dollar. Wilkins said this gives the dollar a significant first-mover advantage, and the development of the stablecoin market now has implications beyond the cryptocurrency sector.

The development of pound sterling stablecoins has been relatively slow. The UK Financial Conduct Authority has tested potential issuers through a dedicated regulatory sandbox and finalized UK stablecoin issuance rules in June; the Bank of England has also tested the feasibility of using stablecoins in coordination with a simulated digital pound for cross-border trade payments. (Cointelegraph)