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Krona strength may resurface
Market Insight – Foreign Exchange – Krona strength may resurface
Swedish economy surpasses expectations
Krona strength may resurface. Swedish growth and underlying inflation have continued to develop strongly, rising to the highest levels in over four years and beating expectations of both its own central bank (Sveriges Riksbank or the “Riksbank”), and the market consensus (see Figure 1). Yet, the EUR/SEK currency pair has risen almost 1.8%* in the past month (SEK weakening), as accommodative monetary measures aimed at limiting Krona strength have been successful. However, at the last two monetary policy meetings, there have been increasing signs that members of the Riksbank’s Executive Board view further monetary easing as unnecessary, especially given the strong outperformance of the Swedish economy and the improving financial environment. Data due in the next three weeks1 will likely reaffirm these views and potentially reduce expectations of intervention. This may remove upward momentum for the EUR/SEK and potentially cause the pair to reverse recent gains.
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Board members voice differing views
The Riksbank cut its benchmark interest rate to -0.5% in February and expanded its asset purchase programme by SEK45bn (US$4.8bn) at its April meeting. The measures were taken to ensure weakness of the Krona and reinforce its important contribution in helping lift inflation. At the last two meetings, Executive Board members have dissented when voting for additional monetary measures, or expressed a more conservative view as to the appropriate course of action. In the absence of a significant catalyst, further monetary measures to weaken the SEK are likely to be met with resistance, especially if upcoming growth and inflation data (due on the 30th May and 14th June respectively) surprise to the upside.
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Resistance ahead
The EUR/SEK is moving towards the higher end of its recent 9.15-9.5 range. Should the pair approach its 2016 high of 9.5046* then it is likely that it will face resistance (see Figure 2). This is because at such levels the Krona weakness would sit in stark contrast to the significant outperformance of the Swedish economy relative to its European peers. In Q4 15, Sweden’s GDP growth was 4.5%*, almost three times that of the Euro Area over the same period.
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Stablecoins are digital currencies tied to assets like the U.S. dollar, offering the price stability needed for payments. They maintain their peg by being backed 1:1 by their underlying fiat currency, with issuers holding equivalent amounts in cash and cash equivalents, making stablecoins a digital representation of those reserves. Their market has doubled to over $235 billion, with daily usage nearly doubling in two years.
Why are stablecoins making headlines now?
Due to their clear product-market fit and growing mainstream adoption, stablecoins have become a top priority for regulation, with both industry leaders and policymakers calling for swift action.
On April 4, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance finally clarified that stablecoins are not securities if backed one-for-one by USD or similar assets and used for payments or value storage. These “Covered Stablecoins” are not marketed as investments, lack profit incentives, and include protections like reserves, making securities law registration unnecessary for issuance or redemption.
The GENIUS Act, introduced in February and advanced by the U.S. Senate Banking Committee in March, marks a major step toward creating a clear legal framework for stablecoin issuance and oversight. This clarity is driving momentum as Fidelity is set to launch its own stablecoin, and Bank of America is preparing to follow it once legislation is finalized.
Globally, the European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) framework has already come into effect, reinforcing a broader shift toward formal integration of stablecoins into traditional finance. These developments reflect a growing consensus that stablecoins are emerging as essential infrastructure for global payments, treasury management, and digital asset adoption.
What are the benefits of stablecoins?
Stablecoins are digital currencies designed for fast, low-cost, and stable transactions. Since their launch in 2014, they’ve become a go-to tool for online payments, especially cross-border transfers. As they’re pegged to stable assets like the U.S. dollar or euro, they avoid the wild price swings seen in other cryptocurrencies.
They’re accessible to anyone with internet, making them especially valuable in regions with high inflation or limited banking access, like Argentina or Turkey.
With some built on public blockchains, stablecoins offer transparency, letting users track transfers and supply in real time. For institutions, they also simplify treasury management by acting as efficient digital cash that can be deployed instantly.
Who are the major players in the stablecoin race?
Tether (USDT) and Circle (USDC), the two largest stablecoin issuers, collectively hold over $204 billion in U.S. Treasuries, making them the 14th largest holders globally. Their combined treasury holdings surpass those of entire nations, including Norway and Brazil.
USDT leads with $144 billion in circulation; USDC, backed by Coinbase and known for compliance, has become a trusted digital dollar across global finance.
Why stablecoins matter: A revenue engine for blockchains
Stablecoins generate steady revenue for blockchains like Ethereum and Solana by driving transaction fees with each transfer. With trillions in annual volume, they help sustain network activity beyond speculation.
On Ethereum, for example, USDT and USDC transactions are major contributors to daily gas fees. Year to date, Tether ranks #3 and USDC ranks #5 in terms of total gas consumed. Tether and Circle also dominate daily transaction activity on Ethereum, averaging approximately 12 million and 6 million transactions per day, respectively, making them the top two entities on the network by daily transaction count.
Meanwhile, on Solana, stablecoin activity has surged, helping sustain validator rewards and strengthen protocol economics. In addition to the mainstream utility, stablecoins represent reliable, protocol-level cash flow, making them crypto’s killer use case.
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