Stablecoin Interest Payments Could Trigger Bank Outflows, Warns Citi Executive

According to Cointelegraph, the potential for paying interest on stablecoin deposits may lead to significant bank outflows, reminiscent of the money market fund surge in the 1980s, as warned by Ronit Ghose, Citi’s Future of Finance head. Ghose highlighted that the rise of money market funds in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which grew from $4 billion in 1975 to $235 billion in 1982, was driven by their ability to offer higher returns compared to banks with regulated deposit rates. This shift resulted in bank withdrawals exceeding new deposits by $32 billion between 1981 and 1982, according to Federal Reserve data. Sean Viergutz from PwC echoed these concerns, suggesting that a consumer shift towards higher-yielding stablecoins could challenge the banking sector. He noted that banks might face increased funding costs by relying more on wholesale markets or raising deposit rates, potentially making credit more expensive for households and businesses. The GENIUS Act currently prohibits stablecoin issuers from offering interest to holders, but this restriction does not apply to crypto exchanges or related businesses, leading to significant reactions from the banking sector. Several U.S. banking groups, led by the Bank Policy Institute, have urged regulators to address what they perceive as a loophole that could allow stablecoin issuers to indirectly pay interest. In a recent letter, these groups argued that this loophole might disrupt credit flow to American businesses and families, potentially causing $6.6 trillion in deposit outflows from the traditional banking system. The crypto industry has responded to these concerns by urging lawmakers to reject proposals aimed at closing the perceived loophole. Industry organizations argue that such revisions would favor traditional banks while hindering innovation and limiting consumer choice. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has shown support for the adoption of dollar-pegged stablecoins. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated in March that the government plans to use stablecoins to maintain the U.S. dollar's status as the world's dominant reserve currency. He emphasized that, under the direction of U.S. President Donald Trump, the administration is committed to ensuring the U.S. dollar remains the leading global reserve currency, with stablecoins playing a crucial role in this strategy.