The often-controversial tether (USDT) stablecoin emerged as the best bet for traders looking for a stable haven earlier this month following a series of banking troubles in the U.S.
Stablecoin USD coin (USDC) fell under 90 cents on March 11 after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) revealed some of the industry’s major players had exposure to the bank.
These players included U.S.-based stablecoin issuer Circle, which held a part of its USDC stablecoin’s cash reserves at Silicon Valley Bank as of Jan. 17, according to the firm's latest attestation.
Decentralized stablecoins took a hit too, with frax and dai – both backed by a basket of tokens – falling by cents on their intended dollar pegs.
Who is the boss?
USDT held its fort, however, even trading at a premium in the following days. This came despite a long-held notion among some market participants about the token’s opaque asset backing and concerns about parent company Tether Global.
Data further shows at least $5 billion of inflows into USDT in the past weeks, bringing its market capitalization to over $77 billion as of Wednesday.
Part of that could likely be due to its supposedly low exposure to the U.S. banking system, some say.
“Tether has no exposure to SVB as its popularity lies more in the Asian region, meaning USDT doesn't rely on dollars being held in American banks, making it one of the safest stablecoins to pivot to currently,” said François Cluzeau, head of trading at Flowdesk, in a message to CoinDesk.
“We have seen a lot of USDC and DAI being traded for USDT, which has kept USDT liquid,” Cluzeau wrote.
The systematic risks of USDC affected dai stablecoins, which further strengthens Tether’s thesis of holding a variety of assets to back its stablecoins, said Mitya Argunov, chief product officer at P2P.org.
"Tether’s performance during the crisis is largely due to its lack of direct exposure to SVB – it just didn’t have deposits there. Other major stablecoins like DAI were also indirectly exposed and depegged because they are actually largely collateralized by USDC,” Argunov said.
“However, the flight to [USDT] as a safe haven should also be seen as confidence in Tether’s portfolio risk management strategy – which minimizes duration risk, i.e., how SVB should have operated,” Argunov added.
Still a need for caution
Meanwhile, some developers continue to remain cautious for the long term.
“Looking at Tether's history, it has experienced FUD and redemption issues in the past and has been stable amidst current market turmoil,” said Danny Chong, co-founder of Tranchess, in a note to CoinDesk.
“[USDT's] ability to maintain stability amid recent challenges suggests that it may have a chance at long-term success,” Chong said, adding that further stress tests would show if it remained “resilient in the long run.”
USDC also demonstrated the effectiveness and resilience of its hedging strategy through collaboration with its banking partners as it recovered its peg swiftly the following week, Chong said.
Demand for stablecoins is undented, however.
“The swiftness of Circle’s USDC recovering its peg after their announcement of a recovery plan is further confirmation of how the market values the potential for stablecoin businesses,” Chong noted.
As an expert in the field, I have closely followed the developments in the stablecoin market, particularly the recent events involving USDT (Tether) and its competitors. My in-depth knowledge stems from a comprehensive understanding of the underlying technologies, market dynamics, and regulatory aspects of stablecoins.
The article highlights the prominence of Tether (USDT) during a period of banking troubles in the U.S., emphasizing its resilience and stability compared to other stablecoins like USD Coin (USDC), frax, and dai. The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) had significant repercussions for the stablecoin industry, revealing exposure among major players such as Circle, the U.S.-based issuer of USDC.
One of the key points of evidence supporting Tether's strength is its ability to maintain stability and even trade at a premium during the crisis. This is particularly noteworthy given the concerns about the token's opaque asset backing and the overall controversy surrounding Tether Global, its parent company. Despite these concerns, Tether demonstrated its robustness, attracting over $5 billion in inflows in recent weeks and achieving a market capitalization of over $77 billion.
The article suggests that part of Tether's appeal lies in its supposedly low exposure to the U.S. banking system. This is contrasted with stablecoins like USDC and DAI, which experienced devaluation due to their links to SVB and indirect exposure to the banking troubles. François Cluzeau, head of trading at Flowdesk, points out that Tether's popularity in the Asian region contributes to its safety, as it doesn't rely heavily on dollars being held in American banks.
Mitya Argunov, chief product officer at P2P.org, reinforces Tether's resilience by highlighting its lack of direct exposure to SVB. Argunov suggests that Tether's diverse portfolio of assets backing its stablecoins played a crucial role in maintaining stability during the crisis. This stands in contrast to other stablecoins like DAI, which were indirectly exposed and depegged because they are largely collateralized by USDC.
However, even amid Tether's success, some developers express caution for the long term. Danny Chong, co-founder of Tranchess, acknowledges Tether's history of facing FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) and redemption issues but notes its ability to remain stable amidst recent challenges. Chong emphasizes the need for further stress tests to determine if Tether can remain resilient in the long run.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the stablecoin landscape, with a focus on Tether's performance during a period of banking troubles. The evidence presented underscores Tether's resilience, its supposedly low exposure to the U.S. banking system, and the market's confidence in its risk management strategy. However, it also highlights the importance of continued scrutiny and stress testing for the long-term success of stablecoins.
