Stablecoins Threaten Regional Bank Deposits
Standard Chartered analysts have issued a stark warning that the rapid expansion of stablecoins could siphon off critical deposits from U.S. regional banks.
On paper, stablecoins are intended to offer a seamless bridge between crypto and fiat currencies, but in practice their popularity may be eroding the foundation of smaller banks already under pressure.
Lawmakers Stall Crypto Rules in Storm
Severe winter weather in the United States has thrown a wrench into Congressional efforts to regulate digital assets. Lawmakers recently postponed work on multiple pieces of digital asset legislation, including the CLARITY Act—a bill aimed at prohibiting interest payments on stablecoin holdings. This delay comes at a time when regulatory clarity is being demanded by both industry players and critics alike.
On Sunday, Bitcoin’s hashrate plunged to 663 EH/s, marking a 40% drop in just two days according to CoinWarz.
The CLARITY Act’s postponement highlights how even the weather can influence crypto’s legislative fate.
According to cointelegraph.com, this legislative freeze coincided with another cold snap: Bitcoin's network hashrate dropped more than 40% over two days, falling to 663 exahashes per second (EH/s) as reported by CoinWarz. The timing illustrates how both natural and political storms can disrupt crypto markets and policymaking simultaneously.
Banks Face One-Third Deposit Drain
The Standard Chartered report quantifies a potential deposit loss scenario for U.S. banks: if stablecoins continue their ascent, regional lenders could see deposit bases shrink by roughly one-third of the stablecoin market cap. With CoinGecko measuring U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins at $301.4 billion as of this week, that translates into approximately $100 billion in possible outflows—an amount that would stress liquidity and lending capacity for smaller banks.
While large national banks may have diversified balance sheets to absorb such shocks, regional players like Huntington Bancshares and Truist Financial face disproportionate risk due to their higher reliance on retail deposits. The report underscores that these vulnerabilities are not merely theoretical; they reflect real-time shifts in consumer preferences toward digital assets over traditional savings accounts.
Chainlink Joins Korea Stablecoin Push
In South Korea, Wemade is responding to regulatory uncertainty by strengthening its technical alliances for its KRW-backed stablecoin initiative. Chainlink Labs was added in January 2026 to Wemade’s Global Alliance for KRW Stablecoins (GAKS), joining firms like Chainalysis (analytics), CertiK (security audits), and SentBe (remittance infrastructure). Chainlink’s role will focus on providing standardized data feeds and oracle services—key components for ensuring price accuracy and onchain verification within institutional digital asset systems.
Launched in November 2025 as part of a strategic reset, GAKS aims to support StableNet—a blockchain platform for Korean won-backed stablecoins—not as an issuer but as a technology partner. Chainlink’s addition brings new layers of data integrity and interoperability to this consortium-based approach.
Why it matters
For everyday consumers and businesses alike, these developments carry immediate consequences: regional banks could face tighter lending conditions if deposit flight accelerates, while delays in Washington mean continued uncertainty over how digital assets will be taxed or regulated in 2026. Meanwhile, international projects like GAKS show that some jurisdictions are moving ahead with robust technical standards even as U.S. policy remains gridlocked.
Critics such as Peter Schiff argue that calls for regulatory “clarity” are veiled attempts by the crypto industry to secure government endorsement or even bailouts—positions he aired recently in an interview with Tucker Carlson. Schiff contends that Bitcoin’s volatility makes it unsuitable as a reserve asset for central banks and points out that its value has dropped roughly 40% compared to gold over the last four years.
The contrast is sharp: while some advocate for integration between crypto and mainstream finance through regulation or technical partnerships, others warn that such moves risk legitimizing volatility and undermining financial stability. The timeline for decisive action remains uncertain—and both investors and institutions are left waiting for clearer signals from policymakers.
The Essentials
- •Standard Chartered estimates US regional banks could lose about $100 billion in deposits, equal to one-third of the $301.4B stablecoin market cap.
- •The US CLARITY Act, which would prohibit interest on stablecoin holdings, was delayed due to severe winter weather in January 2026.
- •Huntington Bancshares, M&T Bank, Truist Financial, and CFG Bank are identified as the most exposed to stablecoin-driven deposit outflows.
What to keep in focus
The US CLARITY Act, which proposes to prohibit interest on stablecoin holdings, has been delayed due to severe winter weather, so if lawmakers resume work and advance the bill, immediate attention will turn to its impact on regional US banks such as Huntington Bancshares, M&T Bank, Truist Financial, and CFG Bank, which Standard Chartered analysts identify as most exposed to stablecoin-related deposit outflows.