Stablecoins Experience Price Instability in 2023
Moody’s Analytics has reported over 600 significant instances of price instability in stablecoins in 2023. A ‘depeg’ or ‘depegging’ event occurs when a stablecoin’s value swings more than 3% from its standard $1 mark within a day, according to Moody’s Analytics.
Moody’s Introduces Digital Asset Monitor
To keep an eye on stablecoin fluctuations, Moody’s Analytics has introduced its Digital Asset Monitor (DAM), focusing on key players such as tether, usd coin, and binance usd. The tool tallied a total of 1,914 depegging events across various stablecoins, with high-value fiat-pegged tokens experiencing 609 instances alone.
Stablecoin Market Growth and Volatility
Moody’s revealed a total of 707 depegging events for stablecoins in 2022. Despite being engineered to anchor their value to a fixed rate, some of the most sizable stablecoins have fallen short of their $1 benchmark. This market growth into a multibillion-dollar asset class accounting for about 10 percent of the crypto market and most on-chain activity has prompted the demand for comprehensive risk assessment tools for digital assets.
Moody’s Analytical Tool for Stablecoins
Moody’s latest analytical tool scrutinizes the movements, reserves, and transparency of leading fiat-anchored stablecoins. It leverages exclusive data, advanced machine learning, and blockchain scrutiny to evaluate potential future “depegs.” The report emphasizes that the digital asset monitoring solution does not connect to Moody’s credit ratings business.
Challenges in Stablecoin Market
Fluctuations in the broader economic landscape often precipitate a detachment from the stablecoins’ pegged value. Moody’s findings indicate that stablecoins regularly experience depegging for various reasons. The monitor aims to shed light on the inherent perils of stablecoins for entities delving into decentralized finance (defi) sector.
Hot Take: Stablecoin Volatility Continues
The cryptocurrency market continues to experience significant volatility in terms of stablecoin prices. Instances of major stablecoins falling below their $1 benchmark have been observed in 2023, leading to concerns about their stability and reliability as a financial instrument.