US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told lawmakers that dollar-pegged stablecoins could swell to more than $2 trillion in the next few years. He spoke at a Senate hearing this week. His outlook came as Congress moved to set new rules on how these tokens must be backed.
Growth Forecast Details
According to Bloomberg, Bessent said a leading industry group expects the stablecoin market cap to top $2 trillion. He called that view “very reasonable.” It would mean backing up to $2 trillion in tokens with US Treasury Bills. Based on reports, Citigroup analysts think issuers might buy an extra $1 trillion in those bills by 2030.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that dollar-linked stablecoins could hit $2 trillion or even more as he reiterated the potential for these digital assets to strengthen the greenback’s position https://t.co/HwVRu0aPkT
— Bloomberg (@business) June 11, 2025
Backing Rules Move Forward
Lawmakers voted to advance a key amendment to the GENIUS Act, which would force stablecoin issuers to hold reserves in top-tier assets. The amendment won cloture yesterday. That clears the way for a final vote, likely early next week. Supporters say the change will boost confidence by ensuring every dollar-linked token has real backing.
Market Size Today
Right now, the total stablecoin market sits at about $255 billion. Dollar-pegged coins make up roughly $233 billion of that. That equals 90% of the whole market. The top nine dollar-pegged coins include USDT, USDC, USDe, DAI, USD1, FDUSD, PYUSD, TUSD, and USDD. They account for nearly all stablecoin activity.
Challenges Ahead
Regulators have work to do. If the GENIUS Act stalls or changes, issuers might head to friendlier markets. There’s also a risk that a handful of big players could dominate. That could create new “too big to fail” worries if a major issuer faces trouble. Plus, tech glitches and smart-contract bugs could still trigger runs on tokens.
If stablecoin use really takes off in cross-border payments and decentralized finance, the US dollar could win new fans overseas. Every $1 trillion in token issuance backed by Treasury Bills might add to demand for US debt. But the path isn’t guaranteed.
Lawmakers must iron out rules that balance safety with innovation. Issuers need strong risk plans. And users must see clear benefits beyond speculation. For now, the market is small compared with the broader financial system. But the shift toward programmable money keeps pace.
Featured image from Sygnum Bank, chart from TradingView
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