Welcome to USD1backbone.com
USD1backbone.com focuses on a single question that matters to every user, developer, and policymaker who touches USD1 stablecoins: what is the backbone that keeps these digital dollars working in a reliable way.
USD1 stablecoins are digital tokens that aim to stay redeemable one for one with United States dollars held in reserve. In plain terms, each token is meant to function like a transferable claim on a dollar that sits in a bank account or in very safe short term government securities. When they work as intended, people can send, receive, and store value across borders in near real time, with predictable value and low fees, without needing to move physical cash or rely on slower traditional payment networks.[2]
However, that apparent simplicity hides a multi layer structure. The true backbone of USD1 stablecoins is made of legal rules, reserve assets, custody arrangements, blockchain infrastructure, wallets, compliance controls, and everyday operational processes. If any of those pieces are weak, the whole system can shake. Global bodies such as the International Monetary Fund, the Bank for International Settlements, and the Financial Stability Board have highlighted that stablecoins sit at the intersection of traditional finance and digital assets, and that their underlying arrangements should be treated with the same seriousness as other parts of the financial system.[1][2][4]
Throughout this page, the phrase USD1 stablecoins is used in a broad, descriptive way. It refers to any digital token that is designed to be stably redeemable one for one for United States dollars, not to any particular brand or issuer. The goal of USD1backbone.com is educational. It does not promote any product, and it does not provide investment, legal, accounting, or tax advice.
Understanding the backbone of USD1 stablecoins can help different groups in different ways:
- Individuals can better judge which tokens and services feel trustworthy for saving, remittance, or everyday payments.
- Businesses can plan how to integrate USD1 stablecoins into invoices, payout flows, or online shops without taking unnecessary risk.
- Developers can design applications that make realistic assumptions about what the underlying tokens and infrastructure can do.
- Policymakers and regulators can map how USD1 stablecoins interact with banking systems, capital markets, and payment rails in their jurisdiction.
The rest of this guide walks through that backbone step by step, from the legal foundation to the future of tokenised money.
What is the backbone of USD1 stablecoins
In everyday speech, a backbone is the central support that holds a structure together. For USD1 stablecoins, the backbone is the combination of components that allow a digital token to hold its value, move across networks, and be redeemed for United States dollars, even under stress.
At a high level, the backbone of USD1 stablecoins includes:
- A clear legal claim that links each token to underlying money.
- A pool of reserve assets that are managed with strong risk controls.
- One or more blockchain networks that record balances and transfers.
- Smart contracts (computer programs that run on the blockchain) that define how tokens can be issued, transferred, and redeemed.
- Wallets and custody solutions that hold private keys (secret codes that control ownership of blockchain addresses).
- Compliance systems that screen transactions and users to detect fraud and financial crime.
- Operational playbooks for incident response, upgrades, and communication with the public.
If these features are well designed, the backbone can support day to day use, extreme market conditions, and regulatory scrutiny. If they are poorly designed, even a stable price during calm periods can hide serious risk of sudden loss or disruption. That is why international reports emphasise that a stablecoin arrangement is more than a token contract; it is an entire ecosystem of functions that need to be sound and well governed.[3][4]
It can be helpful to think of the backbone of USD1 stablecoins in layers, similar to the way payment cards or bank transfers work. There is an instrument layer (the token itself), a network layer (the blockchain or blockchains on which it moves), an infrastructure layer (wallets, exchanges, payment processors), and a regulatory layer (laws, supervision, and enforcement). The following sections break those layers down in more detail.
Core layers of the USD1 stablecoins backbone
Legal and governance foundations
Every USD1 stablecoins arrangement rests on a legal foundation. This is the set of contracts, disclosures, and regulatory permissions that define who owes what to whom. For users who hold tokens, the most important question is whether they have a clear, enforceable right to receive United States dollars when they redeem.
Regulators and standard setters describe a stablecoin arrangement as including the issuer, reserve manager, wallet providers, and other service firms that together keep the token functioning.[3][4] Key elements of a strong legal and governance backbone include:
- Clear terms and conditions that state how redemption works, under what timelines, and with what fees.
- A legal structure for reserves that keeps customer assets separate from the issuer's own funds, for example through segregated accounts or trust arrangements.
- Governance bodies such as boards and risk committees that can oversee operations, set policies, and respond to incidents.
- Policies for upgrades, contract changes, and emergency actions, with transparency to users about who can trigger those changes.
Some of the biggest past failures in the digital asset sector came from unclear obligations and weak governance, rather than from technology problems alone. International work on global stablecoin arrangements emphasises that governance should be comprehensive, transparent, and accountable, similar to other important payment infrastructures.[4]
For the backbone of USD1 stablecoins, that means the legal story should be boring, not creative. Legal innovation can be positive, but the core promise that one token can be redeemed for one United States dollar should be as straightforward as possible.
Reserve design and asset custody
Reserves are the heart of any one for one redeemable token. For USD1 stablecoins, reserves are typically a mix of cash held in commercial bank accounts and short dated United States government securities. The quality, diversification, and liquidity of those reserves strongly influence how well the backbone performs under stress.
Economic research and policy reports draw a distinction between well collateralised fiat backed stablecoins and other arrangements that rely on complex trading strategies or algorithms.[1][6] A robust reserve and custody setup for USD1 stablecoins often includes:
- Holding most assets in very low risk instruments such as Treasury bills with short maturity and insured bank deposits.
- Avoiding concentrated exposure to a single bank or market segment where feasible.
- Segregating client funds in safeguarded accounts that are legally separate from the issuer's operating funds.
- Using high quality custodians with strong internal controls, audited processes, and reporting.
Transparency is a crucial part of the backbone. Regular public reports on reserve composition, along with independent attestations or audits performed by reputable firms, give users and regulators information to evaluate whether the one for one promise is being honoured in practice.[3][6] Reserves should be valued using conservative methods and stress tested to consider liquidity demands during market turmoil.
A reserve system that looks solid in calm conditions but cannot support large redemptions can create run risk. In that situation, some holders may rush to redeem first, fearing that backing assets might not fully cover all tokens. That is why several policy papers compare weak stablecoin arrangements to unstable money market funds or historical private bank notes, which sometimes broke their promised value during panics.[6]
Blockchain settlement and consensus layer
While reserves connect USD1 stablecoins to traditional money, the blockchain layer gives them their digital form. A blockchain is a shared ledger that records transactions in batches called blocks, secured through cryptography and a consensus process among many participants. In many systems, anyone can verify the ledger and send transactions, but only some participants create new blocks.
The backbone of USD1 stablecoins must consider which blockchains to support and how to manage risks on each network. Important aspects include:
- Security of the underlying chain, including its track record against attacks and technical failures.
- Transaction throughput and fees, which affect how practical it is to use USD1 stablecoins for small payments or high volume trading.
- Finality (the point at which a transaction can be considered irreversible) and the risk of chain reorganisations.
- Developer community strength, tooling, and monitoring.
Many USD1 stablecoins are issued on several blockchains at once. This can improve access and flexibility, but it also introduces complexity for issuance controls and for users who move tokens across chains. Cross chain bridges and wrapping mechanisms often sit between chains. These mechanisms should be treated as part of the backbone, because failures in a bridge can lead to loss of value even if the main chains are healthy.
Operators of USD1 stablecoins may maintain so called canonical contracts on each supported chain. These smart contracts define the total supply on that chain, the list of authorised minters and burners, and often some compliance features such as the ability to freeze transfers linked to fraud or sanctions violations.
Smart contracts and token logic
Smart contracts are programs that run on blockchain networks and control how tokens behave. For USD1 stablecoins, smart contracts usually implement standard token interfaces so that wallets and applications can recognise balances and transfers. They may also include extension functions for pausing transfers, blocking certain addresses, or upgrading to new contract versions.
Because smart contracts are immutable by design, the backbone must carefully manage how they are written, tested, and upgraded. Good practice includes:
- Formal code review by independent security specialists.
- Use of battle tested token standards where possible, rather than custom code.
- Clearly documented upgrade and emergency pause mechanisms, including who controls them.
- Monitoring for abnormal patterns, such as large transfers to new addresses or unusual contract calls that may signal an exploit attempt.
Smart contract risks combine with reserve and governance risks. A bug that allows unauthorised minting, for example, can undermine the economic backing of USD1 stablecoins unless detected and reversed quickly. Technical strength is necessary but not sufficient; it must align with financial controls and clear responsibilities across organisations.
Issuance, redemption, and banking connections
USD1 stablecoins exist at the boundary between traditional bank money and public blockchain networks. Issuance and redemption processes are the bridge between those two worlds. When a customer sends United States dollars to an issuer or a distribution partner, new tokens are created. When a customer redeems tokens, the issuer sends back dollars and burns the corresponding tokens on chain.
A strong issuance and redemption backbone will often feature:
- Multiple banking partners in stable jurisdictions, reducing dependence on one institution.
- Clear timelines for processing deposits and withdrawals, including cut off times for large transactions.
- Support for different payment methods, such as domestic real time payment schemes or cross border wires, with transparent fees.
- Controls to ensure that tokens are only minted after funds are fully received and verified, and that redemptions are processed promptly.
Policy reports on stablecoins stress that reliable redemption in normal times and under stress is essential for financial stability.[3][4] If users doubt they can redeem at par, they may shift toward speculative trading or abandon the token entirely, which weakens its usefulness as a payment instrument.
Wallets, keys, and user access
From a user point of view, the backbone of USD1 stablecoins is most visible through wallets. A wallet is software or hardware that stores private keys and helps users create and sign transactions. There are two broad categories:
- Non custodial wallets, where the user controls the private keys directly. If the keys are lost or stolen, the funds are lost, but there is no reliance on a third party to move funds.
- Custodial wallets, where a provider holds assets on behalf of users, records balances in an internal ledger, and signs blockchain transactions when users deposit or withdraw.
Both approaches rely on secure key storage, fresh software updates, and clear user interfaces. For custodial services, strong internal controls, separation of duties, and regular audits are part of the backbone. For non custodial tools, education matters: users should understand how to back up recovery phrases (collections of words that can restore a wallet) and how to avoid common scams.
Accessibility is also a backbone consideration. People around the world access USD1 stablecoins through mobile phones, laptops, and sometimes shared devices in internet cafes or community centres. Interfaces should be designed to support local languages, varied literacy levels, and common device capabilities. In some places, providing offline friendly features can help people cope with spotty connectivity.
Compliance, monitoring, and incident response
Because USD1 stablecoins can move quickly across borders, they sit squarely within international standards on anti money laundering and counter terrorist financing.[5] Many parts of the backbone support compliance:
- Customer due diligence (collecting and verifying information about users where relevant).
- Transaction monitoring that looks for patterns associated with fraud, sanctions evasion, or other illegal activity.
- Tools for law enforcement cooperation, such as well documented contact points and data retention policies.
- Mechanisms inside smart contracts that allow freezing or blocking funds associated with proven illicit activity, where permitted by law.
The Financial Action Task Force guidance explains that entities involved with stablecoins may be treated as virtual asset service providers, and they should apply a risk based approach to monitoring and controls.[5] That means the backbone must support flexible rules and evolving typologies, rather than a one time setup.
Incident response planning is equally important. When something goes wrong, whether through a hack, a software bug, a bank disruption, or a geopolitical shock, users look for rapid, clear communication. A robust backbone includes on call staff, playbooks for different scenarios, coordination channels with infrastructure partners, and channels for public updates.
Transparency, data, and reporting
Modern financial systems run on data. For USD1 stablecoins, transparent reporting helps users, businesses, and regulators understand how tokens are used and how risks are managed. A strong backbone typically offers:
- Regular public updates on total supply, reserves, and concentration of holdings across address categories where privacy rules allow.
- Clear explanations of reserve composition with plain language descriptions of each asset type.
- Historical time series that allow analysts to see how issuance, redemptions, and reserves evolved during different market conditions.
International bodies have noted that transparent information about stablecoin arrangements can reduce the risk of sudden loss of confidence and allow authorities to monitor potential spillovers into other parts of the financial system.[3][7] For the broader public, accessible dashboards and summaries can complement detailed technical disclosures.
How the backbone supports real world use cases
A solid backbone is not an abstract goal. It exists to support real people and organisations who use USD1 stablecoins in everyday life. Different use cases stress different parts of the backbone.
Cross border payments and remittances
One of the most discussed uses for USD1 stablecoins is sending money across borders. Migrant workers might send value home to family members, or small businesses might pay suppliers in other countries. In these cases, the backbone must support:
- Fast settlement on blockchain networks, to reduce waiting time.
- Reasonable and predictable fees, both on chain and at the entry and exit points where fiat money is converted.
- Access to wallets that work well on low cost smartphones.
- Descriptions and receipts that help users track who paid whom, when, and for what purpose.
Research from international organisations notes that digital tokens with stable value can lower costs for some cross border payments, especially where traditional correspondent banking networks are thin.[2][7] However, those benefits depend on reliable redemption, robust compliance, and cooperation with local financial institutions. A strong backbone connects the on chain speed of USD1 stablecoins with the off chain realities of local banking, cash out agents, and regulation.
Commerce, invoices, and payroll
Businesses may consider accepting or paying with USD1 stablecoins for online sales, contractor invoices, or even some types of payroll. For merchants, the backbone needs to deliver:
- Stable value so that revenues do not swing between the moment of sale and the moment of conversion to local currency.
- Integration with accounting systems, so that invoices, receipts, and tax records stay organised.
- Reliable on ramps that convert tokens to bank balances in the jurisdictions where bills, salaries, and taxes are paid.
For workers and contractors, especially those in different countries than their clients, USD1 stablecoins can sometimes provide faster access to earnings than traditional wire transfers. Yet this advantage only holds if the backbone supports accessible redemption options in their home country, and if regulatory treatment of such flows is clear.
Trading, hedging, and market liquidity
Within digital asset markets, USD1 stablecoins act as a base unit of account and a common settlement asset. Many exchanges quote prices in terms of a stablecoin rather than directly in national currency. This use case stresses:
- On chain and off chain liquidity, so that large orders can be filled without moving the price far.
- Resilience of exchanges, lending platforms, and other venues that hold large amounts of USD1 stablecoins.
- Clarity on how tokens behave during market stress, for example whether redemptions continue smoothly while other prices are volatile.
Policy reports underline that heavy use of stablecoins in trading can create channels through which stress in digital asset markets might affect traditional markets that hold the reserves.[1][3][6] For that reason, the backbone must take into account not only the direct holders who redeem, but also the broader ecosystem of traders, lenders, and derivative platforms.
Risk when the backbone is weak
The benefits of USD1 stablecoins rest on the assumption that the backbone holds up in both calm and stormy conditions. When parts of the backbone are weak, the entire arrangement can break down, sometimes abruptly.
Reserve and liquidity risk
If reserves are invested in risky assets or concentrated in a small number of fragile institutions, the one for one promise may not hold during stress. Losses in reserve portfolios can create a gap between the value of assets and the outstanding tokens. If users suspect such a gap, they may rush to redeem, forcing asset sales at bad prices, which deepens the problem.
Past episodes in digital finance and in money market funds show how quickly confidence sensitive instruments can unravel when backing assets are questioned.[3][6] For USD1 stablecoins, forward looking stress testing, conservative investment guidelines, and clear contingency funding plans are vital parts of the backbone.
Technology and smart contract risk
Bugs in smart contracts, unsafe upgrade mechanisms, or weaknesses in supported blockchains can lead to loss of funds or long service disruptions. Attackers may exploit vulnerabilities to mint unauthorised tokens, drain reserves, or block transfers. Even without attackers, overloaded networks or unexpected forks can delay settlement.
While security audits and formal verification can reduce these risks, they cannot eliminate them. A strong backbone assumes that unexpected technology problems will occur at some point, and it prepares responses such as emergency pauses, coordinated chain re organisation handling, or migration to alternative networks if required.
Governance and operational risk
Human decisions are as important as code and balance sheets. Poorly designed governance can lead to conflicts of interest, delayed reactions to clear warning signs, or sudden policy shifts that surprise users. Operational failures such as insufficient staffing, weak change management, or unsupervised contractors can open the door to mistakes or misconduct.
Regulatory and policy papers on stablecoins highlight governance as a central pillar of resilience.[3][4][7] For USD1 stablecoins, that means clear lines of responsibility, risk dashboards that reach senior decision makers, and a culture that treats user trust as a scarce asset.
Regulatory and policy risk
The rules around stablecoins are still evolving in many jurisdictions. Around the world, authorities are working to integrate stablecoins into broader regulatory frameworks for payments, banking, and securities.[4][7][8] Regulatory changes can affect:
- Which entities are allowed to issue USD1 stablecoins.
- What types of reserves are permitted or required.
- How wallets and exchanges must verify customers and report transactions.
- Capital, liquidity, or governance standards applied to issuers and key service providers.
A backbone that ignores regulatory direction may grow quickly in the short term but face abrupt restrictions later. By contrast, a backbone that anticipates likely regulatory standards and aligns with them can provide more durable certainty for users and partners.
What to look for in a strong backbone
Whether you are an individual user, a business decision maker, or a developer, you can use the concept of the backbone as a checklist for evaluating USD1 stablecoins and related services. The details will vary, but certain themes show up repeatedly in international work.
For individuals and families
If you are considering holding or using USD1 stablecoins personally, questions like the following can help you assess the backbone:
- Does the issuer clearly explain the right to redeem tokens for United States dollars, and the process to do so.
- Are reserves described in simple language, with emphasis on high quality liquid assets rather than complex products.
- Is there recent, independent assurance on reserves from a recognised firm, and is the scope of that assurance explained.
- Which blockchains are used, and are they well known, widely monitored networks with strong track records.
- If you use a custodial wallet or platform, do you understand how your assets are segregated, how to withdraw, and what happens if the platform has financial trouble.
No checklist can remove all risk, but simple questions like these align closely with the themes that regulators and standard setters emphasise when they assess stablecoin arrangements.[3][4][5]
For businesses and institutions
Companies that integrate USD1 stablecoins into their operations face additional considerations:
- Integration: Does the payment or custody provider offer reliable interfaces, documentation, and support in the regions where you operate.
- Compliance: Can the provider support your obligations for customer checks, transaction screening, and reporting to authorities in relevant jurisdictions.
- Accounting and tax: Are there clear processes for recording balances, valuing holdings in financial statements, and generating reports for tax purposes.
- Business continuity: Does the provider publish information on backup systems, disaster recovery, and past incidents.
Because the market for USD1 stablecoins and related services is global, many businesses will also consider the jurisdictions in which providers are based, and whether those jurisdictions have clear regulatory frameworks for stablecoins, payments, or electronic money.
For developers and innovators
Developers building on USD1 stablecoins care about programmability and reliability. From a backbone point of view, they might look for:
- Stable and well documented token interfaces on supported chains.
- Support for test networks where new applications can be tried without financial risk.
- Clear limits and guarantees around throughput, fees, and rate limits for infrastructure services.
- Transparent communication channels for upgrades, deprecations, and incidents that could affect applications.
Stablecoins are sometimes discussed as part of a wider move toward tokenised money and tokenised financial assets.[1][6][7] In that vision, robust backbones for tokens that represent claims on bank deposits, central bank money, or other assets may interact closely with the backbones of USD1 stablecoins. Developers who understand how these layers fit together can design more resilient products.
Global regulation and policy landscape
USD1 stablecoins do not exist in isolation. Around the world, authorities are working to understand how stablecoins interact with monetary policy, financial stability, and payment systems. Their findings shape what a sound backbone should look like.
The Financial Stability Board has set out high level recommendations for the regulation, supervision, and oversight of stablecoin arrangements with the potential for wide reach.[4][7][8] These recommendations stress that:
- Functions such as issuance, redemption, and stabilisation should be clearly identified and subject to appropriate regulation.
- Governance should be comprehensive and transparent.
- Reserves should be of high quality and subject to robust risk management and safeguards.
- Cross border arrangements should respect host country rules and facilitate cooperation between authorities.
In parallel, the President's Working Group on Financial Markets in the United States has called for legislation to subject payment stablecoin issuers to a consistent prudential framework and to address gaps in current law.[3] This includes attention to reserves, redemption rights, and the potential concentration of economic power in a few large issuers.
The Financial Action Task Force has updated its guidance on virtual assets and service providers to clarify how stablecoins fit into international standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.[5] This guidance applies both to issuers and to intermediaries such as exchanges, wallet providers, and payment processors.
The Bank for International Settlements examines stablecoins in the context of a broader shift toward tokenised finance, including tokenised deposits and potential central bank digital currencies.[1][6] Its analysis highlights that privately issued stablecoins can provide useful experimentation but may not be suitable as the central anchor of a monetary system unless they meet demanding tests of robustness.
For the backbone of USD1 stablecoins, these policy perspectives underline a few themes:
- Convergence: In many jurisdictions, stablecoin arrangements are being pulled into existing regulatory frameworks for payments, banking, and securities instead of being treated as completely new anomalies.
- Same risk, same rules: Authorities are working to ensure that functions that look like deposit taking, money transmission, or securities issuance are regulated accordingly, even if they involve new technology.
- International links: Because USD1 stablecoins are often used across borders, coordination between home and host authorities is essential to avoid regulatory gaps where risks could build unchecked.[7][8]
Future directions for the USD1 stablecoins backbone
The digital money landscape is changing quickly. USD1 stablecoins sit alongside other experiments, such as tokenised bank deposits and potential central bank digital currencies. Several trends are likely to shape how the backbone of USD1 stablecoins evolves.
Interoperability and shared infrastructure
Today, USD1 stablecoins often live on multiple blockchains that operate largely independently. Efforts are under way to build shared settlement layers or interoperability protocols that could allow tokens to move more smoothly across networks or to interact with tokenised bank money in a unified way.[1][6][7]
A more interoperable future backbone could feature:
- Common messaging standards for payment instructions and compliance information.
- Shared identity and credential frameworks that help users prove who they are to different service providers without exposing more data than needed.
- Bridges and routing mechanisms that are designed with strong security models, including clear liability arrangements and robust safeguards against attacks.
Such developments could make it easier for businesses and developers to build on USD1 stablecoins without worrying as much about which chain a given customer prefers. At the same time, they raise fresh questions about systemic risk, concentration, and governance at the level of shared infrastructure.
Closer links with traditional finance
As more regulated institutions explore tokenisation, the backbone of USD1 stablecoins may connect more deeply with traditional market infrastructure. Examples include:
- Banks offering tokenised versions of customer deposits on permissioned ledgers.
- Payment companies using USD1 stablecoins for settlement between their own branches in different countries.
- Trading venues and clearing houses experimenting with tokenised collateral and delivery versus payment on blockchain based systems.[1][6][7]
These developments could bring benefits such as faster settlement and better transparency but also blur the line between on chain and off chain systems. The backbone of USD1 stablecoins will need to handle more complex interactions with clearing banks, custodians, and central securities depositories.
Role of central bank digital currencies
Some central banks are exploring or piloting digital versions of their own currencies, often called central bank digital currencies. International reports suggest that such instruments could coexist with private tokens, including USD1 stablecoins, in a future financial system.[6][7]
In that world, the backbone of USD1 stablecoins might:
- Integrate with platforms where central bank digital currencies, tokenised deposits, and stablecoins can move under common rules.
- Provide options for users to move between private and public digital money with clear pricing and consumer protections.
- Compete on user experience, programmability, and cross border reach, while central bank money continues to provide the foundation for safety and settlement.
Regardless of how central bank projects develop, the emphasis on safety, transparency, and resilience in current policy discussions is likely to influence expectations for the backbones of private tokens as well.
FAQ about USD1 stablecoins backbone
What makes USD1 stablecoins different from other digital tokens
Many digital tokens have prices that move up and down rapidly. USD1 stablecoins are designed instead to track the value of United States dollars closely, backed by reserves and by the promise of redemption. Their backbone therefore focuses less on speculative trading and more on maintaining par value, reliable settlement, and compliance with payment rules.[2][3]
Is the backbone only about technology
No. Technology is important, but the backbone of USD1 stablecoins also includes legal agreements, reserve assets, banking relationships, governance structures, compliance processes, and communication with users. A secure smart contract cannot compensate for weak reserves or unclear redemption rights, just as strong reserves cannot fully compensate for insecure software.
Does regulation make USD1 stablecoins risk free
Regulation and supervision can reduce certain risks and can help align stablecoin arrangements with broader financial stability goals.[3][4][5] However, no arrangement is completely without risk. Users should still pay attention to how reserves are managed, how technology is maintained, and how issuers respond to incidents.
How does USD1backbone.com relate to any particular issuer
USD1backbone.com is described here as a general educational resource about the backbone of USD1 stablecoins. It does not issue, sell, or redeem tokens, and it does not endorse any specific product, platform, or issuer. Any examples are meant to illustrate concepts rather than to promote particular services.
How can users keep track of changes to the backbone
The structure of USD1 stablecoins arrangements can change over time. Issuers may add or remove banking partners, support new blockchains, adjust reserve compositions, or respond to regulatory changes. Users who rely on USD1 stablecoins for significant amounts of value may wish to:
- Review official disclosures and reserve reports on a regular basis.
- Follow announcements about upgrades, incidents, or regulatory developments.
- Diversify their holdings and service providers where appropriate, so that they are not fully dependent on a single backbone.
International organisations and regulators also publish periodic assessments of stablecoin markets and tokenisation trends.[1][2][4][7][8] These can provide useful context on how the backbones of different arrangements compare and how risks are evolving.
References
[1] Bank for International Settlements, "Stablecoins versus tokenised deposits: implications for the financial system", BIS Bulletin 73, 2023. Available at https://www.bis.org/publ/bisbull73.pdf.
[2] International Monetary Fund, "Digital Currencies: The Rise of Stablecoins", 2019. Available at https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2019/09/19/blog-digital-currencies-the-rise-of-stablecoins.
[3] United States President's Working Group on Financial Markets, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, "Report on Stablecoins", 2021. Available at https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/StableCoinReport_Nov1_508.pdf.
[4] Financial Stability Board, "High level recommendations for the regulation, supervision and oversight of global stablecoin arrangements", 2023. Available at https://www.fsb.org/2023/07/high-level-recommendations-for-the-regulation-supervision-and-oversight-of-global-stablecoin-arrangements-final-report.
[5] Financial Action Task Force, "Updated Guidance for a Risk Based Approach to Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers", 2021. Available at https://www.fatf-gafi.org/en/publications/Fatfrecommendations/Guidance-rba-virtual-assets-2021.html.
[6] Bank for International Settlements, "The next generation monetary and financial system", Annual Economic Report, Chapter 3, 2025. Available at https://www.bis.org/publ/arpdf/ar2025e3.htm.
[7] Financial Stability Board, "The financial stability implications of tokenisation", 2024. Available at https://www.fsb.org/2024/10/the-financial-stability-implications-of-tokenisation.
[8] Financial Stability Board, "G20 risk watchdog warns of significant gaps in global crypto rules", summary of thematic peer review on crypto asset activities, 2025. Based on reporting available at https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/g20-risk-watchdog-warns-significant-gaps-global-crypto-rules-2025-10-16.