Tether Faces Market Cap Drop Amid MiCA Hurdles

EU exchange delistings took a bite out of USDT's market cap, but the majority of volumes still come from Asia.

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Tether’s market cap experienced its largest decline since FTX’s collapse this week as MiCA regulations prompted delistings across major European exchanges.

What's the Scoop?

  • MiCA Impact: European exchanges and Coinbase Coinbase delisted USDT, citing compliance concerns with the EU's MiCA regulations, and dropping its market cap over 1% to $137B.
  • Regional Dominance: Despite the drop, Tether Tether maintains its lead in stablecoin markets, with 80% of USDT trading volume originating in Asia.
  • Adaptive Moves: Yet, Tether has invested in MiCA-compliant firms, signaling its intent to adapt to evolving regulatory landscapes.

Bankless Take:

While good at grabbing headlines, Tether’s market cap decline due to MiCA compliance has been expected for a while, with the stablecoin still remaining 3x the size of its closest competitor, USDC.

While these delistings in the euro area certainly create immediate challenges, Tether’s Asia dominance and proactive investments in MiCA-compliant entities suggest resilience against these regulatory pressures, with it already deciphering new methods of maintaining exposure to EU markets.


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David C

Written by David C

369 Articles View all      

David is a writer/analyst at Bankless. Prior to joining Bankless, he worked for a series of early-stage crypto startups and on grants from the Ethereum, Solana, and Urbit Foundations. He graduated from Skidmore College in New York. He currently lives in the Midwest and enjoys NFTs, but no longer participates in them.

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