Bank of Israel considers strengthening oversight of stablecoins – media

Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron announced his intention to increase oversight of stablecoins, which was the topic of discussion at a conference dedicated to the evolution of payments. This announcement came in the context of the growing integration of "stable assets" into global money flows, CoinDesk reports.

The Growing Popularity of Stablecoins

Yaron noted that the total market capitalization of stablecoins has currently exceeded $310 billion, and monthly transaction volume has reached over $2 trillion, according to DeFi Llama. He emphasized that, given their public adoption, stablecoins cannot be considered a fringe phenomenon. The head of the National Bank compared the size of this sector to the balance sheet of the average global commercial financial institution.

Risks and the Need for Regulation

Yaron also noted the high risk of "concentration" in this sector, as Tether and Circle account for 99% of the global stablecoin volume. In his opinion, such centralization creates systemic vulnerability, which underscores the need for clear regulation. He highlighted several key aspects that both private issuers and supervisory authorities should focus on:

- Full reserve coverage at a 1:1 ratio.
- Highly liquid reserve assets.
- Creation of a scalable regulatory structure.

These measures will help reduce the risks associated with the use of stablecoins and ensure greater stability in the financial system.

Plans for the Launch of a Digital Shekel

Plans for the launch of a digital shekel were also discussed at the conference. Yoav Soffer, head of the Israel Digital Shekel project, stated that the CBDC (central bank digital currency) will become "central bank money for everything." He presented a roadmap for 2026, which outlines the intention to introduce official digital money, further underscoring Israel's commitment to innovation in the financial sector.

In Conclusion

Strengthening oversight of stablecoins in Israel reflects global trends toward stricter regulation of the cryptocurrency market. Given the growing popularity and systemic importance of stablecoins, such measures could help ensure greater stability and protection for users and investors. At the same time, the development of a digital shekel could be an important step in the evolution of the country's financial system, opening up new opportunities for digital payments.