Thought-provoking opinion piece out now on Cointelegraph: The GENIUS Act (US) and MiCA (EU) could fundamentally split stablecoins into two worlds — “cash-like” instruments vs. “shadow deposits”! 💸🌑
Key insights from Emir J. Phillips (Associate Professor at Lincoln University of Missouri):
• Stablecoin “pegs” are evolving from marketing gimmicks to enforceable redemption rights — especially in panic scenarios.
• Under GENIUS Act & MiCA: Regulated stablecoins become more like digital cash with statutory protections, 1:1 reserves, no yield-for-holding, and strong redemption guarantees.
• But if they start paying interest or behaving like mass deposits without full safeguards → they risk turning into “shadow deposits” that could reprice (depeg) like credit during runs, creating systemic risks.
• This creates a divide: Compliant ones act as safe, on-demand payment tools; non-compliant or yield-bearing ones could mimic uninsured bank-like behavior in the shadows.
With GENIUS Act (signed into law in 2025) tightening US rules and MiCA already live in Europe, we’re seeing global regulators draw a hard line: Stablecoins should be digital cash, not shadow banking substitutes.
Could this bifurcation boost trust in regulated stablecoins (like USDC/USDT under new frameworks) while sidelining riskier ones? Or will it push innovation elsewhere?
What’s your take — will this make stablecoins more reliable for everyday use, or create a two-tier system? Drop your thoughts! 👇
#Stablecoins #GENIUSAct #MiCA #CryptoRegulation #ShadowBanking (Source: Cointelegraph opinion by Emir J. Phillips, February 2026)