The stablecoin sector has reached a pivotal moment, with its total market capitalization approaching $240 billion—just shy of its historical peak. Data from DeFiLlama reveals $5 billion in new stablecoin issuance last week alone, driving:
- 7-day growth: +2.18%
- 30-day expansion: +2.62%
Market Dominance & Key Players
- Tether (USDT) maintains a 61.92% market share
- USD Coin ($USDC ), Ethena USDe, and Dai (DAI) follow as major contenders
Institutional Adoption & Projections
A Citigroup report forecasts three potential trajectories by 2030:
1. Base Case: $1.6 trillion market cap
2. Bull Scenario: $3.7 trillion (with regulatory clarity)
3. Bear Case: Stagnation at $500 billion (if regulatory hurdles persist).
Usage Metrics Signal Mainstream Integration
- Active Wallets: 53% YoY surge (19.6M → 30M Feb 2024–2025)
- Circulating Supply: 63% increase ($138B → $225B same period).
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller recently endorsed dollar-pegged stablecoins as tools to reinforce USD hegemony—a nod to their growing systemic role in:
- DeFi ecosystems
- Cross-border payments
- Institutional treasury strategies.
