Skip to content 
The Illusion of Stability in an Unpredictable Sea
In the vast and often tumultuous waters of cryptocurrency, stablecoins like Tether (USDT), USD Coin (USDC), and TerraUSD (UST) are designed to be the anchors, maintaining a steady value tied to a fiat currency, most often the U.S. dollar. However, recent events have highlighted that these anchors can drift, shaking investor confidence and challenging the very idea of “stability” in the crypto ocean.
On May 12, Tether, one of the leading stablecoins and third-largest cryptocurrencies globally, experienced a depegging event. Its value briefly fell below the $0.96 mark, a significant departure from its $1 target.
This event might seem minor, but in the world of stablecoins, it’s equivalent to a storm in a teacup, causing ripples throughout the market. The depegging was part of a larger trend of volatility across markets, with indexes such as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite dropping significantly and Bitcoin experiencing a nearly 40% drop over a six-week stretch.
Stablecoins: Not All Boats Are Built the Same
While Tether struggled, some investors shifted their positions to other stablecoins like Binance USD (BUSD) and USD Coin (USDC) that were holding their value better.
However, the facade of stability of these alternatives was also challenged. USDC, for instance, saw a major depegging event in March 2023, dropping to as low as $0.877 per coin, following the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank, where Circle, the issuer of USDC, held about $3.3 billion in reserves.
This wasn’t an isolated incident. TerraUSD (UST) experienced a similar fate in the spring of 2022. The depegging events sparked a crisis of confidence, leading to billions of stablecoins being withdrawn from circulation.
These events act as a reminder that not all boats are built the same, and in a storm, even the most seemingly secure vessels can capsize.
Behind the Stablecoin Curtain: The Role of Reserves
The backbone of a stablecoin’s stability is the reserve backing it. This reserve is a mixture of cash and short-term commercial debt for Tether. The transparency (or lack thereof) around these reserves has been a point of contention.
Concerns around the ability of issuers like Tether and Circle to maintain their pegs amidst market turbulence have underlined the importance of transparency and regulatory oversight in the sector.
As the world grapples with the implications of these depegging events, one thing is clear: The risk associated with stablecoins is not to be underestimated. They have a significant role in the crypto market, and their failure can have wide-reaching effects, from skyrocketing transaction costs to a drop in the overall crypto market’s stability.
Navigating the Uncertain Waters Ahead
Regulatory bodies worldwide are now grappling with how to handle stablecoins. The G-7 and G-20 countries are divided on how to best regulate the sector, with advanced and emerging economies at odds. As governments attempt to define stablecoins as being riskier than cash assets, the question remains: How will the sector adapt, and what will this mean for investors and the crypto market at large?
