BoE Governor Andrew Bailey Warns Adoption of Stablecoins Threatens Central Bank

As the adoption of stablecoins slowly takes over, stewardship and proper regulation become a priority to maintain economic harmony. Bank of England (BOE) Governor Andrew Bailey seems to think the same.

Bailey has cautioned that the adoption of digital currencies, including stablecoins, could upset the economic applecart if proper regulation isn’t implemented.

Per remarks given during his speech at the Andrew Crockett Memorial Lecture on 3 July 2025, the nature of reserve currency has evolved. The monetary world has moved on from the earlier definition of a reserve currency as a fixed monetary anchor to an increasing reliance on secure, liquid assets such as the US Treasuries, and the central bank’s supply of liquidity as and when needed.

“First, at least for the large economies, it could be asked today, what is the point of official reserves?” he said.

In addition to this, Bailey also put forth the notion of the changing role of reserve currency, explaining how it has moved from backing currency convertibility to preserving financial stability as capital circulates in and out of a country.

Bailey cautioned, “Central banks need to carefully examine payment innovation based on stablecoins.”

Bailey, soon to lead the Financial Stability Board, has previously flagged potential threats regarding stablecoins and plans to address them soon.

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Adoption of Stablecoins Could Cause Digital Dollarisation

In the wake of the landmark legislation passed by the US Senate normalising the use of stablecoins, Bailey’s warnings come amidst growing concerns related to the wide adoption of the US dollar-backed stablecoin, which could cause digital dollarisation.

A striking contrast to this is the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant, hailing the stablecoin legislation as a step towards cementing the dollar’s reserve currency status worldwide, amidst concerns regarding the erosion of trust in the greenback’s reserve currency status.

“We need to watch carefully the evolution of payment forms and whether innovation here introduces fragility into what I would call the ‘money system,” said Bailey.

He went on to point out during his lecture the need for authorities to carefully monitor any changes made to the structure of money, such as the introduction of privately issued stablecoins, that help mitigate any detrimental effects on monetary trust.

“If, for instance, stablecoins emerge as a new form of money, we have to decide how to ensure the singleness of money and therefore trust in money in this world, and what role the notion of reserve currency should play here,” he said.

He added, “The rise of stablecoins could raise questions about the purpose of official foreign reserves in major advanced economies today.”

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“Central banks could face the heat if stablecoins become a widely used form of payment without proper regulations”

Bailey mentioned that authorities should make efforts to clarify the role of reserve currencies since advancements in payment technologies might avoid traditional oversight.

Some analysts are of the opinion that the adoption of stablecoins without global coordination could split the financial system. Without regulations in place, privately issued tokens might circulate outside central control, making it harder to manage economies and keep cross-border finance stable.

Authorities are currently reviewing how stablecoins can remain reliable and legally compliant as questions arise regarding the inclusion of stablecoins into the financial monetary system or their existence outside of it.

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