Stablecoins are increasingly flowing through global payment rails. But here is the catch: in the US, they are still not legal tender - only US coins and Federal Reserve notes qualify. The IRS even classifies stablecoins as property, meaning every payment could trigger capital gains tax. But winds are shifting. The proposed Stablecoin Transparency and Accountability for a Better Ledger Economy (STABLE) Act of 2025 could make USD stablecoins legal tender. The ECB’s digital euro already envisions legal tender status for CBDCs, therefore, if Washington recognises stablecoins, how long before other jurisdictions follow either by adopting USD stablecoins or fast-tracking their own programmable digital alternatives?
