Circle is losing the stablecoin war to Tether (Feat. Leo Schwartz)
Sep 20, 2023
auto_awesome
Leo Schwartz from Fortune joins the podcast to discuss why Circle's stablecoin, USDC, can't seem to overtake Tether. They dive into Circle's risk management, changing business model, declining market cap, and the role of stablecoins in the crypto market. They also explore the regulatory landscape and potential use cases of stablecoins.
Circle struggled to maintain its competitive position against Tether due to challenges with banking partners and reserves.
Circle's shift towards a model where only Coinbase and Circle issued USDC tokens raised questions about their commitment to their original vision.
Circle's failure to achieve regulatory compliance hindered their path towards becoming a fully regulated bank and impacted their acquisition of Poloniex.
Deep dives
Circle's intention to create a financial revolution falls short compared to Tether
Circle, a major alternative to Tether, positioned itself as a regulated stablecoin company working with regulators. However, it faced significant challenges after being hit by the banking crisis. With its reserves trapped at Silicon Valley Bank and the loss of stability, Circle struggled to maintain its competitive position against Tether.
Struggles to diversify reserves and mitigate risk
Circle faced difficulties in diversifying its reserves and mitigating risk. While they claimed to have diversified banking partners, their substantial reserves were trapped in Silicon Valley Bank, leading to a weekend of panic among traders.
Shift in business strategy and partnerships
Circle initially launched USDC through a consortium model called Center, with aspirations to support multiple fiat-back stablecoins. However, they shifted to a model where only Coinbase and Circle issued USDC tokens. This change allowed them to maintain more control over profits but raised questions about their commitment to their original vision.
Challenges with Poloniex acquisition and regulated exchange
Circle's acquisition of Poloniex, an altcoin exchange, aimed at becoming a regulated exchange compliant with the SEC. However, challenges with compliance and partnerships led to the sale of Poloniex to Justin Sun. The failure to achieve regulatory compliance hindered their path towards becoming a fully regulated bank.
Market cap and future prospects
While Circle's stablecoin, USDC, has seen significant success, it faces tough competition from Tether. The market cap of USDC has seen fluctuations, and its future prospects depend on factors like interest rates and market preferences for stablecoins.
Today Bennett and Cas are joined by Leo Schwartz from Fortune to discuss his feature article about Circle, USDC, and why the stablecoin can't seem to overtake Tether in marketcap or volume.