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Harley Bassman views government support for US dollar stablecoins as a smart policy. He argues that because these stablecoins are typically backed by US Treasurys, their growth creates a significant new source of demand for government debt, helping to absorb sales from foreign central banks.

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The U.S. is approving stablecoins for a strategic reason: they require reserves, which must be U.S. treasuries. This policy creates a massive, new, non-traditional buyer for government debt, helping to finance enormous and growing fiscal deficits with a structural source of demand.

By creating a regulatory framework that requires private stablecoins to be backed 1-to-1 by U.S. Treasuries, the government can prop up demand for its ever-increasing debt. This strategy is less about embracing financial innovation and more about extending the U.S. dollar's lifespan as the global reserve currency.

The US government's backing of stablecoins is a strategic financial maneuver, not just a nod to crypto innovation. By promoting stablecoins backed by US Treasuries, it creates a new, frictionless global distribution channel to sell its debt at attractive rates to a worldwide audience.

By making T-bill-backed assets easily accessible to retail investors worldwide via smartphones, stablecoins could unlock a massive new pool of capital. This would create trillions in indirect demand for US Treasury paper, helping to finance US debt at lower rates while simultaneously advancing US geopolitical goals.

By mandating that dollar-pegged stablecoins be backed by short-term Treasury bills, the U.S. government is creating a massive, built-in demand for its debt. This new class of buyers is insensitive to yield, seeking only dollar exposure.

The US is embracing stablecoins to maintain the dollar's global dominance. By enabling easy access to digital dollars worldwide, it creates new, decentralized demand for US treasuries to back these stablecoins, offsetting reduced purchasing from foreign central banks.

Contrary to fears of destabilizing banks, stablecoins are a net positive for government finances. As their market cap grows, so does their need for backing assets like short-term government bonds. This makes the stablecoin industry a major, growing buyer of government debt, increasing demand for US Treasuries.

In a novel attempt to delay a debt crisis, policymakers are pushing for regulations that would force stablecoin issuers to back their digital dollars one-to-one with U.S. Treasuries. This cleverly creates a new, captive international market for government debt, helping to prop up the system.

As foreign central banks' demand for U.S. debt wanes, the rapidly growing stablecoin market has emerged as a major buyer. By backing tokens with U.S. Treasuries, issuers like Tether and Circle have created a powerful new demand vector, surpassing countries like Saudi Arabia and Germany.

As foreign nations sell off US debt, promoting stablecoins backed by US Treasuries creates a new, decentralized global market of buyers. This shrewdly helps the US manage its debt and extend the life of its reserve currency status for decades.