Crypto Custodian Anchorage to Phase Out USDC, Stirring Backlash

Anchorage Digital, a crypto custodian and federally chartered financial institution, stated it should begin phasing out and direct institutional shoppers to convert USDC

and different stablecoins into rival token Global Dollar (USDG) in a sweeping transfer that drew criticism from trade gamers.

The agency launched a “Stablecoin Safety Matrix” that ranks stablecoins primarily based on regulatory oversight and reserve asset administration on Tuesday.

Circle-issued USDC, which is the second-largest stablecoin with a $61 billion provide and is fashionable amongst establishments, was deemed now not appropriate below Anchorage’s safety framework. Two different, smaller tokens, Agora USD (AUSD) and Usual USD (USD0), had been additionally slated for elimination. Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies with their costs tied to an exterior asset, predominantly to the U.S. greenback.

“Following our Stablecoin Safety Matrix, USDC, AUSD, and USD0 no longer satisfy Anchorage Digital’s internal criteria for long-term resilience,” Rachel Anderika, head of worldwide operations at Anchorage, stated in a assertion justifying the choice. “Specifically, we recognized elevated focus dangers related to their issuer buildings — one thing we imagine establishments ought to fastidiously consider.”

“Anchorage Digital is targeted on supporting stablecoins that show robust transparency, independence, safety, and alignment with future regulatory expectations,” she added.

Stablecoin race heats up

The move came at a time when competition in the stablecoin market is heating up with global banks, payments firms and crypto companies jockeying for position in the rapidly-growing sector.

The U.S. Senate recently passed the GENIUS Act that aims to enact clear rules for the asset class and issuers, which could open the gates for broader adoption. On Friday, White House crypto czar David Sacks suggested that the bill may become law as soon as next month, pending passage in the House of Representatives.

Reports by Citi and Standard Chartered reports projected the asset class to grow from the current $250 billion to trillions through the next few years. Circle (CRCL), the company behind the USDC token, recently went public and skyrocketed in valuation.

Anchorage gave USDC a score of 2 out of 5 for regulatory oversight and reserve management. The report said there was “no substantive prudential oversight” and that Circle had a large — about 15% — amount of its reserves held in cash at banks. Notably, USDC depegged temporarily in March 2023 when partner bank Silicon Valley Bank went under. Tether’s USDT, the world’s largest stablecoin, had a higher rating with Anchorage pointing to it being regulated in El Salvador.

S&P Ratings rated USDC “robust,” its second-best rating in its stablecoin stability assessment. Bluechip, a crypto-native stablecoin rating firm, gave USDC a B+ rating in its economic safety rating.

Industry leaders push back

Anchorage’s decision met with fierce pushback.

Nick Van Eck, whose firm Agora issues AUSD, accused Anchorage of misrepresenting facts about his stablecoin and failing to disclose its commercial interest in Global Dollar. USDG is issued by Paxos and is backed by a consortium of firms that share the income from the reserve assets backing the token. Anchorage is a founding partner in that consortium.

“If Anchorage had simply delisted USDC and AUSD to prioritize the stablecoins that they’ve an financial curiosity in, I’d perceive it as a enterprise choice,” he said in an X post. “But trying to delegitimize AUSD and USDC for ‘safety considerations,’ whereas knowingly publishing false info, is unserious and weird.”

“Never seen such an apparent hit piece be so poorly executed,” said Viktor Bunin, protocol specialist at digital asset exchange Coinbase. Coinbase jointly launched USDC with Circle in 2018, and shared revenue from the reserve assets backing the token.

Jan Van Eck, father of Nick Van Eck and CEO of asset manager Van Eck, which manages AUSD’s backing assets, also questioned the risk assessment.

“If you want fun, take a look at this ‘security’ matrix earlier than Anchorage pulls it down. According to the matrix, Circle’s USDC (world’s second largest stablecoin) and AUSD (backed 100% by treasuries) have reserve points,” he posted on X. “Oh, and by the way in which, AUSD’s reserve supervisor is regulated by umpteen totally different regulators.”

Circle, in a statement sent to CoinDesk, defended the firm’s “long-standing compliance file” and “robust fame as an trade chief.”

“We adjust to the prevailing U.S. regulatory requirements that apply to main fintech and funds companies, and we had been the primary stablecoin issuer to obtain full compliance with the European Union’s landmark crypto legislation,” a Circle spokesperson said. “USDC is 100% backed by fiat-denominated reserves and has sturdy main liquidity by a well-developed community of banks, representing what we view as the best ranges of transparency, security, and operational resiliency in our trade.”

Support came for Circle and Agora outside of the two stablecoins’ camp.

“For the file, BitGo will not be dropping USDC help,” said Chen Fang, chief revenue officer at crypto custodian BitGo.

“Agora and Circle are long-standing companions of ours, and our prospects rely on secure, clear rails for USD settlement,” said Joshua Lim, co-head of markets at crypto prime broker FalconX, adding that his company “is prepared to help shoppers utilizing AUSD and USDC.”