Stablecoins Pose Existential Threat to U.S. Banking System—Morningstar DBRS Sounds Alarm

Traditional banking faces its most disruptive challenge yet as stablecoins gain critical mass.

Morningstar DBRS warns that dollar-pegged digital assets are rapidly eroding the foundation of conventional deposit systems and payment networks.

The $180 billion stablecoin market now processes more daily transaction volume than many major payment processors—and it's just getting started.

Why park cash in 0.01% yielding bank accounts when stablecoins offer instant settlement, global accessibility, and emerging yield opportunities?

Banks suddenly find themselves competing with code—and they're losing. The irony? They'll probably lobby for bailouts while calling crypto 'risky.'

The passage of the first federal stablecoin legislation on July 17 has also accelerated adoption. With regulation in place, U.S. banks are beginning to explore launching their own stablecoins, notes the agency.

“Stablecoins offer efficiency and innovation in the financial system, but they also pose both opportunities and risks for banks,” Morningstar DBRS analysts wrote in a report published Tuesday.

How Stablecoins Work: Cheaper, Faster, Smarter Money

Morningstar explains stablecoins are designed to combine the reliability of fiat currencies with the efficiency of blockchain. Unlike traditional payment rails — credit cards, ACH, or wire transfers — stablecoin transactions settle in seconds.

“Stablecoins are programmable money,” Morningstar notes, highlighting their use in smart contracts that automatically execute financial operations.

This has made them attractive for cross-border payments, e-commerce, and remittances. Major issuers like Tether, Circle, and PayPal back their coins with reserves of short-term U.S. Treasuries and cash equivalents, ensuring stability and redeemability.

The efficiency advantage is stark: where wire transfers can cost up to $50 and take days to settle, stablecoins MOVE instantly with negligible fees. This dynamic is drawing users away from banks’ legacy systems.

Risks to U.S. Banks: Deposits and Payments at Stake

Morningstar warns that the rise of stablecoins poses real risks to U.S. banks’ Core business models. The most immediate concern is deposit flight.

If consumers increasingly hold funds in stablecoins for rewards, convenience, or integration with decentralized finance, banks could lose the deposits that underpin their lending operations.

According to the Bank for International Settlements, stablecoins still account for just 1.5% of total U.S. deposits, but growth is accelerating. “

A large-scale shift of funds from bank accounts into stablecoins could constrain banks’ ability to fund new loans or extend credit,” Morningstar analysts said.

Banks also risk losing lucrative payment fees. Stablecoins bypass networks like ACH and SWIFT, enabling cheaper and faster transfers. As Exhibit 2 shows, the cost advantage is significant, threatening revenue from transaction services.

Not All Bad News: A Path Forward for Banks

Despite the risks, Morningstar highlights potential opportunities. Banks could leverage their regulatory credibility to serve as custodians of stablecoin reserves, manage U.S. Treasury holdings, and provide settlement and compliance infrastructure. These services could open new fee income streams.

The newly passed GENIUS Act (Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act) sets capital and reserve requirements for issuers, creating a more level playing field. Some banks are considering launching their own fully backed stablecoins, integrated into existing compliance systems, to retain deposits and stay competitive.

“Whether stablecoins ultimately represent an opportunity or a threat to U.S. banks will depend on regulatory design and market adoption,” Morningstar concludes.