The White House's push for stablecoin regulation could soon lead to trillions of dollars' worth of demand for U.S. Treasuries, according to David Sacks, a top adviser to Donald Trump.
David Sacks, who serves as a top advisor to crypto and artificial intelligence has served under President Trump, has announced that the administration expects the U.S. Senate to pass the GENIUS Act, a bill aimed at regulating stablecoins. Sacks argues that this bill could spur massive new demand for U.S. Treasuries.
In an interview with CNBC this week, Sacks pointed out that there are currently more than $200 billion in stablecoins in circulation, which are thus far unregulated. By providing legal clarity and a proper framework, “there could be trillions of dollars of demand for our Treasuries virtually overnight,” he added.
The GENIUS Act, officially known as the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act, cleared a major hurdle in the Senate this week when 66 senators, including 15 Democrats, voted to advance it, providing enough support to avoid a filibuster.
Sacks believes the administration can count on the law to pass, but he declined to answer questions about potential conflicts of interest involving Trump and his family's crypto ventures.
Critics point to Trump’s financial ties to the crypto sector. For example, the Trump family backs World Liberty Financial, which recently launched the stablecoin USD1, which is backed by U.S. Treasuries and dollar currencies. The Abu Dhabi MGX fund invested $2 billion in USD1 through Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange that has admitted to violating U.S. anti-money laundering laws in a $4,3 billion settlement.
The GENIUS Act would create a federal framework for stablecoin issuers and bring dollar-backed digital currencies under U.S. oversight. Sacks frames it as an economic opportunity, arguing that stablecoins offer a “new, more efficient, cheaper, and frictionless payments system — new payment rails for the U.S. economy.”
Still, the bill’s final passage could be delayed. A last-minute amendment from Sen. Josh Hawley capping late fees on credit card payments could cause friction with banking groups. As they say, “It’s always best to be prepared for the unexpected.”
How many stablecoins are currently in circulation?
There are currently over $200 billion worth of stablecoins in circulation.
What is the GENIUS Act?
The GENIUS Act is a bill that aims to create a federal framework for stablecoin issuers and bring dollar-backed digital currencies under US oversight.
What are the potential economic implications of the GENIUS Act?
The law could create trillions of dollars in demand for U.S. Treasuries and introduce a new, more efficient payments system.
The future of stablecoins and their impact on the economy will be exciting to follow. What is your opinion on the role of stablecoins in our financial system? Join the discussion!