The upcoming cryptocurrency bull run in 2025 may be overshadowed by regulations surrounding stablecoins. While BTC dominates the news with its record highs, stablecoins have emerged as a key topic among policymakers and institutional investors during a recent series of meetings in the U.S. organized by Standard Chartered Bank.

According to Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank’s global head of digital assets research, stablecoins have been the subject of 90% of discussions with lawmakers and clients in Washington, D.C., New York, and Boston. So, the question arises: is this a bullish trend or not?

“The discussions were almost entirely focused on stablecoins rather than bitcoin, despite BTC’s price surge,” Kendrick noted.

GENIUS Act Could Accelerate Institutional Stablecoin Adoption

With predictions suggesting that the stablecoin market will expand from $240 billion to $750 billion by 2026, the effects are poised to impact not only cryptocurrencies but the broader bond market as well.

Kendrick warns that the growing demand for T-bill backing could distort Treasury issuance, potentially shifting focus away from longer-term debt.

A significant driver behind this rising interest is the GENIUS Act, which seeks to regulate fiat-backed stablecoins. The bill is expected to be passed imminently, paving the way for broader adoption by corporations, fintech firms, and local governments.

Regulatory Shifts Coming Faster Than Expected

Support is growing for the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which might reach the House floor by September, ahead of its initial schedule. This bill aims to clarify regulations regarding crypto tokens, facilitating the introduction of hybrid stock tokens into DeFi protocols.

Just imagine being able to invest in SpaceX, OpenAI, or Twitter by the year’s end. That’s what this bill could enable.

Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated that the House intends to handle bills individually rather than bundling them to maintain fragile discussions in the Senate.

“It’s a priority for the White House, the Senate, and the House to advance these cryptocurrency bills,” Johnson stated.

In a year that has been primarily characterized by Bitcoin, it may very well be stablecoins that become the most transformative force in digital finance—not because of price fluctuations, but due to their deepening connections to governance.