Gold 24K AED 489.39/gUSD/AED 3.6725USDT/AED 3.6724AED/INR 26.25All live rates →

The Future of Stablecoins: A Shift to a Network-Based Model?

The article discusses a central question in the stablecoin market: can new projects compete with the dominance of established players like Tether (USDT) and Circle (USDC)?USDT and USDC have grown exponentially since 2020, with their combined supply exceeding $260 billion. Their strong position is due to their long track records, deep liquidity, and widespread integration across various platforms.

However, a new model is emerging, exemplified by projects like USDG (Global Dollar Network). Unlike the centralized approach of Tether and Circle, these new projects use a decentralized, network-based system where control and collateral are distributed among participants. This model aims to reduce risk and scale more effectively.

Analysts from Token Terminal question whether this network-based approach is the only way for new stablecoins to challenge the current leaders. The article suggests that new entrants may need to rely on network effects and decentralized infrastructure to gain a foothold. The outcome of this competition—whether the market becomes more consolidated or a multi-model ecosystem—will be crucial for the future of the crypto economy. While Tether and Circle currently hold the lead, the rise of network-based projects could reshape the stablecoin landscape in the coming years.

September 2025, Cryptoniteuae

📧 The Gulf reads Cryptonite first
Get MENA regulation moves, RWA deals and AI-money trends in one weekly brief — plus instant alerts when the MENA Regulation Tracker changes. Free, no spam.
Was this briefing useful?Thanks for the feedback!
Vaibhavv Ali
Vaibhavv Ali

Vaibhavv Ali is the founder and editor of Cryptonite (cryptonite.ae), an independent digital-asset news and analysis publication with a UAE focus. He covers virtual-asset regulation — VARA, ADGM and the UAE Central Bank — alongside real-world-asset tokenization, stablecoins and agentic AI in finance. Every Cryptonite article is human-edited and its sources are linked. He is also a celebrated speaker and host.

More articles by Vaibhavv Ali →
About  ·  Contact  ·  Privacy Policy  ·  Editorial Policy  ·  Advertise  ·  Newsletter
Follow: X  ·  LinkedIn  ·  Instagram  ·  Binance Square  ·  CoinMarketCap  ·  Gate