Anchorage Digital has begun what could be a true revolution for the mass adoption of stablecoins in the traditional financial system globally. The firm announced that it has marketed a suite of federally regulated stablecoin offerings as an alternative channel for non-US banks to access US dollar liquidity, presenting them as a compatible substitute for some correspondent banking flows.
What does Anchorage offer?
Anchorage presented its suite of stablecoins as US dollar-denominated enterprise instruments issued under a federal bank charter. The company highlighted three products and partnerships as examples:
- USA₮: issued in collaboration with Tether and positioned as a federally regulated option for using dollar-denominated digital assets.
- USDGO: issued for OSL Group, described as an enterprise stablecoin launched through Anchorage’s federally regulated platform.
- USDtb: issued by Anchorage Digital Bank, N.A., described by the firm as “the first US federally regulated stablecoin.”
Comparison with Traditional Banking
Anchorage argued that its value proposition focuses on speed, cost, transparency, and the simplification of currency management. Stablecoin settlements take place in seconds or minutes, the firm noted, unlike the typical 2 to 5 business days for cross-border transfers through multiple correspondent banks. This speed reduces settlement risk and releases capital previously locked in transit.
For the traditional banking system, this could be highly beneficial. It’s worth remembering, however, that the vast majority of banks, both in the United States and around the world, have always been very critical of cryptocurrencies. It seems that, more than 10 years late, they have no alternative but to acknowledge the significant advantages of crypto.
Returning to the news, Anchorage highlighted the contrast between multi-correspondent fees (commonly cited in industry examples as roughly $25 to $50 per transfer) and tokenized transfers, which involve nominal network fees, often fractions of a cent. Blockchain-based ledgers also provide more direct auditability, according to the company, reducing friction in reconciling transactions between intermediaries.
Anchorage also highlighted USD-denominated stablecoins as a simple way to manage dollar exposure without multiple currency conversions across correspondent routes. The company presented its federal charter and compliance framework as a way to address the regulatory uncertainty that has complicated other digital asset solutions.
