Circle Internet Financial, the powerhouse behind the $28 billion Coin (USDC), has ushered in a new era by commencing purchases of U.S. Treasury bills as a key reserve asset. This strategic move comes after the firm divesting all its holdings amidst the recent U.S. debt ceiling crisis.
Circle Embraces U.S. Treasury Bills for its Stablecoin Reserve
The Circle Reserve Fund (USDXX), deftly managed by industry titan BlackRock, has initiated the process of strengthening its direct holdings of Treasury bills, per Jeremy Fox-Geen, Circle’s Chief Financial Officer
Fox-Geen also elucidated that repurchase agreements, colloquially known as repos, will continue to form a segment of the reserve assets.
This announcement trails Circle’s preemptive actions to fortify the USDC against the potential repercussions of the U.S. government failing to augment its borrowing capabilities, thereby risking a debt default. In an early May disclosure, CEO Jeremy Allaire clarified that the enterprise would abstain from holding bonds due to maturity beyond the month’s end.
By June, reports suggested that the reserve fund had transitioned all holdings into tri-party repos in collaboration with globally significant banks such as Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas, Bank of America, and the Royal Bank of Canada.
U.S. Avoids Financial Distress with Debt Ceiling Raise
Eventually, the nation breathed a sigh of relief as U.S. lawmakers agreed to raise the debt limit, an action formalized by President Joe Biden’s signature on June 3. This move effectively eliminated the impending financial turmoil.
As of June 20, Circle has appended $2.2 billion of T-bills to the fund. Concurrently, repos account for a notable 90% of the fund’s $24.7 billion in assets, as per BlackRock’s website. Moreover, the firm has secured an additional $3.5 billion in bank deposits, the lion’s share of which, over 90%, is lodged with the Bank of New York Mellon, according to Fox-Geen.
Circle’s strategic maneuvers underline its commitment to maintaining the stability and integrity of its digital currency, USDC. As the firm pivots towards using U.S. Treasury bills as a reserve asset, it exhibits a flexible, proactive approach to the dynamic financial landscape, ensuring the digital asset’s resilience during economic turbulence.
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