
The Stablecoin Future Vision
Reeve Collins, one of the people who helped start Tether, has made a pretty bold claim about where money is heading. He thinks that by 2030, all forms of currency will essentially become stablecoins. That includes traditional fiat currencies like dollars, euros, and yen.
In a recent interview at Token2049 in Singapore, Collins explained his thinking. He said that stablecoins are really just traditional currencies running on blockchain infrastructure. The way he sees it, we’ll still call them dollars or euros, but they’ll operate on these new digital rails.
What’s interesting is his timeline. He believes stablecoins will become the main way people transfer money within the next five years. The benefits of tokenized assets have become too obvious for traditional finance to keep ignoring, he argues.
US Regulatory Shift as Catalyst
Collins pointed to something that might surprise some people. He called the recent change in how the US government views crypto as “the best thing to ever happen” to the market.
Before this shift, many large traditional finance companies were too scared to get involved. They worried about government scrutiny and regulatory uncertainty. While there’s still some gray area, Collins says the situation has changed dramatically.
This new openness has opened what he calls “floodgates.” Traditional finance institutions are now rushing into crypto, with stablecoins being a major focus. Every large bank and institution wants to create their own stablecoin because it’s both profitable and more efficient for transactions.
The Tokenization Advantage
Collins makes a strong case for why tokenization matters. Tokenized assets offer much better transparency and can move around the world quickly without middlemen getting in the way. This increased utility, he believes, leads to better returns.
He explained that even the same asset, once it’s moved onchain, becomes more useful. More utility means potentially higher returns. That’s why he thinks the tokenization story is so compelling right now.
Security Concerns Remain
Of course, moving everything onchain isn’t without risks. Collins acknowledged the security challenges around blockchain bridges, smart contracts, and crypto wallets. Hacks and social engineering attacks remain serious concerns that need addressing.
He did note that security is improving overall. But the fundamental trade-off remains: if you want full control of your assets, you need to handle the technical complexity yourself. If you prefer to trust third parties like traditional banks, there are custodial services available.
Collins seems to think that as the technology matures, people will have more options and better security. But he’s realistic that there will always be some level of risk with new technology. It’s a balance between control and convenience that each person will need to figure out for themselves.
Looking ahead, Collins envisions a future where the distinction between centralized and decentralized finance blurs. As more traditional institutions adopt blockchain technology and create their own stablecoins, the lines between these worlds will likely become less clear.