The global stablecoin market is undergoing a major transformation. According to the latest report by Standard Chartered analysts, the total stablecoin supply could grow nearly tenfold by the end of 2028, reaching $2 trillion compared to the current $230 billion. This massive growth will be driven not only by technological advancements but also by significant legislative developments in the United States.
The GENIUS Act — A Catalyst for Expansion
A key driver of this growth will be the U.S. Growth and National Innovation in U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, recently approved by the Senate Banking Committee. The bill is expected to come into force this summer, establishing a favorable regulatory environment for stablecoin issuers.
The GENIUS Act aims to legalize and regulate stable digital assets while enhancing transparency and accountability among issuers. It will introduce clear frameworks for reserve mechanisms and open the door to greater institutional investor participation in the space. This will mark a turning point in the history of stablecoins, pushing them closer to the status of full-fledged global financial instruments.
Rising Demand for Treasuries and the U.S. Dollar
Standard Chartered estimates that the expected growth of the stablecoin market will trigger explosive demand for U.S. Treasury bonds. Issuers will increasingly back their tokens with government securities to maintain stability and comply with new regulations.
Cumulative demand for Treasuries from issuers is projected to hit $1.6 trillion over the next four years. By 2028, their total investment in bonds is expected to reach $1.75 trillion, up from about $150 billion today.
Experts emphasize that this surge in demand will reinforce the strength of the U.S. dollar, especially amid rising geopolitical tensions and growing competition from other currencies. The dollar’s demand will be supported not only by issuers but also by investors focused on fiat-backed digital assets.
Crypto Market Regulation: Nasdaq’s Initiative
In parallel with Senate legislation, the Nasdaq stock exchange has submitted its own proposals for regulating digital assets. In a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nasdaq outlined a clear asset classification system that could form the basis of future crypto regulation.
Four Categories of Digital Assets
Nasdaq experts propose classifying digital assets into four categories:
1. Securities — tokenized versions of traditional financial instruments such as stocks and bonds.
2. Investment Contracts — digital assets falling under the definition of an investment contract according to the Howey Test.
3. Digital Commodities — assets that meet the definition of a “commodity” under the Commodities Exchange Act, such as tokens backed by oil, gold, or other resources.
4. Other Digital Assets — those that do not fit into any of the above categories, such as utility tokens or loyalty tokens.
According to Nasdaq, securities and investment contracts should be regulated by the SEC, while digital commodities should fall under the purview of the CFTC — the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
A New Era of Digital Finance
The rise of stablecoins and proposals for their classification signal the beginning of a new era in digital finance. With a clear and transparent legal framework, the market could not only maintain its current growth pace but also attract significant institutional capital — including banks, hedge funds, and pension funds.
As a result, over the next 3–5 years, we may witness the integration of stablecoins into the global financial infrastructure, where they will play a crucial role in payments, trading, and liquidity management.
