Citi Predicts Stablecoins Could Drive Blockchain Adoption to $3.7 Trillion by 2030

Global bank Citi forecasts 2025 as a potential turning point for blockchain adoption, driven by stablecoins. Analysts compare this moment to AI's breakthrough with ChatGPT.

Citi highlights stablecoins like Tether's USDT ($145 billion) and Circle's USDC ($60 billion) as key growth drivers.
The bank predicts stablecoin market could reach $1.6 trillion by 2030 under favorable conditions, with an optimistic scenario of $3.7 trillion and a pessimistic case of $500 billion.
A supportive U.S. regulatory framework, including a presidential executive order for digital assets, is seen as crucial for deeper integration into the financial system.
Stablecoins expected to remain predominantly dollar-denominated, with 90% tied to the U.S. dollar by 2030.
Issuers may hold $1.2 trillion in U.S. Treasuries by 2030, potentially outpacing major foreign holders.
European and Asian central banks are likely to promote their own Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).
Risks include stablecoin de-pegging incidents, which occurred nearly 1,900 times in 2023, potentially disrupting liquidity and market stability.

Stablecoin issuers could be a major source of demand for U.S. government debt (Citi)