Investors Should Scrutinize Stablecoins, Warns Sentinel Global Founder, Amid CBDC and Depegging Risks

• Privately-issued stablecoins carry distinct governance and back-end controls, including potential freeze capabilities and regulatory compliance requirements.

• Different stabilization models—overcollateralized, algorithmic, and synthetic—bring unique risks like bank-run dynamics, de-pegging, and model failures under volatility.

• Investors should scrutinize backing, redemption terms, transparency, and issuer credibility; ongoing policy evolution can alter risk profiles.

Stablecoins offer fast settlement but carry regulatory and counterparty risks; read the fine print to understand backing, redemption terms, and potential freezing controls.

What is privately issued stablecoins and how do they differ from CBDCs?

Privately issued stablecoins are crypto tokens designed to maintain a peg through asset backing or algorithmic means, governed by private issuers rather than a central bank. They can offer speed and efficiency but come with counterparty, regulatory, and governance risks that users must quantify before exposure.

How transparent are privately-issued stablecoins?

Transparency varies by issuer, with some providing detailed reserves and stress tests; others rely on governance models that can obscure backing. Regulatory scrutiny is accelerating, and market data show the stablecoin market cap rising with adoption, highlighting both opportunity and risk in parallel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main risks of privately-issued stablecoins?

The primary risks include counterparty risk, regulatory risk, and liquidity risk; redemptions can trigger bank-run dynamics; peg stability depends on collateral or algorithmic mechanics; investors should evaluate issuer risk and redemption policies.

Are privately-issued stablecoins safe for everyday transactions?

They can be used for payments, but safety depends on issuer credibility, custody solutions, and regulatory status. Consider diversification and risk awareness when using them in routine transactions.

Key Takeaways

• Regulatory landscape is evolving: Policy changes can affect stability, access, and redemption terms.
• Different stabilization models carry different risk profiles: Backing type and governance influence resilience in stress.
• Due diligence on issuer and backing is essential: Verify reserves, disclosures, and track record before allocating funds.

Conclusion

As the regulatory and technological environment for stablecoins evolves, investors should stay informed through official data and independent analyses. COINOTAG will continue to provide timely reporting on policy developments, market dynamics, and risk factors to help investors make prudent choices. For more analyses, visit en.coinotag.com.

Published: 2025-10-18 • Updated: 2025-10-18

Jeremy Kranz, founder of Sentinel Global, a venture capital firm, said investors should be “discerning” and read the fine print on any stablecoin. Kranz described privately-issued stablecoins as “central business digital currency,” which feature the surveillance, backdoors, programmability, and controls similar to CBDCs. He emphasized that technology is neutral, and outcomes depend on investors reading the fine print and making informed choices. The analysis references S&P Global’s work on stablecoins’ peg retention and GENIUS Act developments, with market data showing stablecoin market cap at over $307 billion, according to DeFiLlama.

Sentinel Global founder and managing partner Jeremy Kranz. Source: Sentinel Global

Stablecoin market cap sits at over $307 billion at the time of this writing. Source: DeFiLlama