PayPal SVP Jose Fernandez da Ponte says incorporating banks into the stablecoin business is important

Speaking at the Consensus 2025 conference in Toronto, PayPal Senior Vice President of Digital Currencies Jose Fernandez da Ponte said that incorporating banks into the stablecoin business is important

PayPal Senior Vice President of Digital Currencies Jose Fernandez da Ponte said at the Consensus 2025 conference in Toronto that incorporating banks into the stablecoin business is important and that without doing so, the full potential of these coins cannot be unlocked.

Stablecoins, digital currencies that track traditional assets like the US dollar, have taken on new prominence as a way to move money between the volatile, programmatic world of cryptocurrencies and the more predictable, government-controlled realm of the traditional financial system. But they have been hamstrung by regulatory grey areas and worries about financial stability.

PayPal’s own stablecoin, PYUSD, launched in August 2023, is fully backed by US dollar deposits and short-term US treasuries, allowing for 1:1 redemption. Despite its potential, PYUSD’s adoption has been modest, with a market capitalization of approximately $872 million, compared to the stablecoin market’s total exceeding $238 billion.

Fernandez’s comments come as lawmakers are close to passing stablecoin legislation that could transform the market and open it up to banks. The US also seeks to update rules around digital assets.

Fernandez da Ponte draws attention to the need for clear regulation in the crypto industry

Fernandez da Ponte claims that although it may seem counterintuitive if stablecoins are to grow outside of crypto-native circles, the banks in this market will be essential because their infrastructure, from custody to providing fiat rails, will be crucial. Both the fabric and the connectivity must function.

One other famous name that weighed in on the topic of conversation, Anthony Soohoo, chairman and CEO of MoneyGram, a cross-border money transfer service, claimed that this was a big breakthrough. Based on his argument, “There’s always hesitation: Can I trust this? [The stablecoin legislation] will answer many of those questions.”

Once there are clear regulations, both executives said, they expect consolidation after a wave of new issuers floods the industry. Fernandez da Ponte said there wouldn’t be just two stablecoins, or even 300, but more than that.

The stablecoin market is, at present, mostly run by Tether and Circle’s Stablecoins, commanding almost 90 of the $230 billion asset class. However, at a supply of $900 million, PYUSD is far behind.

Fernandez said market capitalization should not be the basis for measuring success. He said one should focus on velocity, active wallets, and the total number of transactions, emphasizing that drives actual use.

In the meantime, customers have been hunting for stablecoins backed by dollars that they can use for international payments and as stores of value in nations with high inflation and volatile currencies. MoneyGram, which has nearly a million cash-access locations in over 200 countries, helps enable that access, Soohoo says.

According to reports, developed countries have been slower in embracing stablecoins. With adequate clear regulation, stablecoins can streamline cross-border disbursements and corporate treasury activities, Fernandez da Ponte said.