SEC is not the appropriate regulator for stablecoins: Circle CEO


The United States Securities and Exchange Commission is not the appropriate agency to regulate stablecoins, according to Circle founder and CEO Jeremy Allaire.

in a interview Speaking with Bloomberg on Feb. 24, the CEO of Circle expressed his views on the SEC and its recent moves to clamp down on the cryptocurrency industry, including the issuer of the Paxos stablecoin.

Allaire appears to have taken issue with the SEC's approach to stablecoins, arguing that dollar-pegged "payment stablecoins" should be under the supervision of a banking regulator, rather than the SEC.

โ€œI don't think the SEC is the regulator of stablecoins,โ€ Allaire said, adding:

โ€œThere is a reason that around the world, including the US, the government specifically says that payment stablecoins are a payment system and banking regulatory activity.โ€

Circle confirmed last week that there was has not been targeted by the SEC following the issuance of a Wells notice to Binance USD (BUSD)-emitter Paxos.

โ€œThere are many flavors, as we like to say, not all stablecoins are created equal,โ€ Allaire said, adding: โ€œBut clearly from a political perspective, the uniform view around the world is that this is a prudential payment system". regulatory space.โ€

However, Circle's CEO said he was generally in favor of a Recent SEC Proposal on Crypto Custody that would make it much more difficult for exchanges to become custodians.

"We believe that having qualified custodians that can provide the appropriate control structures and protection against bankruptcy and other things is a very important and very valuable market structure."

Circle is the issuer of the world's second largest stablecoin, USD Coin (USDC). It has a circulating supply of $42.2 billion, giving it a 31% market share. Tether remains the dominant stablecoin with a supply of $70.6 billion and a 52% market share, according to CoinGecko.

Related: Why the SEC Wants to Ban Crypto Betting and Stablecoins Under Scrutiny

On February 23, Allaire agreed with SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, who said the agency should refer to Congress. Due to the lack of legislation, some believe that the SEC has been taking matters into its own hands with regards to cryptocurrency regulations and enforcement.

Circle is expanding its headcount by up to 25%, bucking the general trend crypto layoffs trendnoted the report.