Will the cap on UK stablecoins impact its status as a financial hub? Brian Armstrong warns that tightening regulations and soaring profits may create a hedge.

On February 25, the CEO of the United States’ largest compliant CEX, Brian Armstrong, publicly opposed the Bank of England’s proposed stablecoin holding limit policy, stating that the related rules could weaken the UK’s competitiveness in the global digital asset and stablecoin markets and suppress the development of the crypto innovation ecosystem. He said on social media that if current regulatory directions restrict stablecoin size and use cases, capital and blockchain companies may migrate to more friendly jurisdictions.

Under the proposed framework, the Bank of England plans to set a limit of approximately £20,000 for individual stablecoin holdings, impose higher limits for businesses, and require 40% of reserves to be held in non-interest-bearing central bank accounts. Some industry insiders interpret this design as a direct constraint on stablecoin liquidity and yield models, which could impact core applications such as stablecoin payments, tokenized assets, and on-chain settlements. Several UK lawmakers also warned that excessive restrictions could weaken fintech innovation and reduce institutional participation.

Meanwhile, the stablecoin-related revenue of this CEX is rapidly growing. The company expects stablecoin business revenue to reach $1.35 billion in 2025, significantly higher than $911 million in the previous year, with particularly strong contributions in the fourth quarter. Analysts note that as stablecoin revenue sharing, on-chain settlement demand, and USD stablecoin adoption increase, stablecoins are gradually shifting toward a role as “basic financial infrastructure” rather than just a single crypto product.

Bloomberg industry research suggests that if the US GENIUS Act establishes a federal stablecoin regulatory framework and allows offering yield incentives to holders, related revenue could multiply several times. However, banking lobbies are concerned that interest-bearing stablecoins could divert traditional deposits, leading to efforts to limit stablecoin yields in the CLARITY Act, which could also impact the platform’s interest-sharing model with Circle.

Notably, Brian Armstrong has previously withdrawn support for some regulatory drafts, believing that unreasonable stablecoin regulations could be more destructive than a lack of legislation. Currently, US regulators, banking representatives, and the crypto industry are still negotiating on stablecoin yields, risk management, and market structure. The policy direction will directly influence the stablecoin regulatory framework, the competition landscape of USD stablecoins, and the development path of global crypto compliance markets.

Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to Disclaimer.

Related Articles

Institution: Cooling expectations for rate cuts, and easing expectations around Middle East conflict or limiting upside space for gold prices

Sky Links Capital CEO Daniel Takieddine said that, as expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts weaken, the upside potential for gold is limited. The price of gold is influenced by strong U.S. labor data and geopolitical risk. He noted that gold’s near-term performance will depend on U.S. economic data and policy signals.

GateNews2h ago

The Bank of Japan avoids committing to an April rate hike; the market expects a 66% probability of a rate hike this month

The Bank of Japan has issued cautious signals through its quarterly economic report, expressing hesitation about raising interest rates—especially amid rising uncertainty and concerns about price increases. The market estimates the likelihood of a rate hike this month at about 66%. When dealing with inflation, companies continue to face rising costs and consumer fatigue.

GateNews3h ago

CME "Fed Watch": 98.4% probability that the rate will be held unchanged in April

Gate News message. On April 6, according to today's CME “FedWatch” data, the probability that the Federal Reserve keeps interest rates unchanged in April is 98.4%, and the probability of a 25-basis-point rate hike is 1.6%. The probability that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged cumulatively by June is 96.6%, the probability of cumulative 25-basis-point rate cuts is 1.8%, and the probability of cumulative 25-basis-point rate hikes is 1.5%.

GateNews11h ago

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee will review the nomination of Wash, the Fed Chair, on April 16

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee will hold a hearing on April 16 to consider Kevin Wosch’s nomination to serve as the Federal Reserve Chair. Although the current chair, Powell, is facing a criminal investigation, Wosch’s nomination process is still ongoing and could conflict with the investigation. Committee member Thom Tillis said he will not confirm Wosch before the investigation is concluded. This shows that Trump faces challenges in advancing two parallel processes.

GateNews22h ago

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee is scheduled to review the nomination of the U.S. Federal Reserve Chair, named Wash, on April 16.

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee will hold a hearing on April 16 to review Kevin Wosch’s nomination to serve as the Chair of the Federal Reserve. At the same time, the ongoing criminal investigation into the current Chair, Powell, may affect Wosch’s confirmation process. Committee members have said they will not vote to confirm before the investigation concludes, which could create a potential clash between two tracks of the Trump administration.

GateNews04-04 13:31

U.S. March jobs smash expectations, with 178,000 added

In March, the U.S. added 178,000 jobs, recovering from February's losses and reducing the unemployment rate to 4.3%. The stronger-than-expected report may influence future interest rate decisions by the Fed amidst fluctuating oil prices.

CoinDesk04-04 13:02
Comment
0/400
No comments