Tether receives ‘constrained’ assessment from S&P Global

Four of the eight stablecoins initially assessed were knocked back by “negative adjustments,” S&P told Blockworks

article-image

S&P and Adobe modified by Blockworks

share

The S&P Global Ratings unveiled its stablecoin stability assessment on Tuesday.

The launch looked at Dai (DAI), First Digital USD (FDUSD), Tether (USDT), Frax (FRAX), TrueUSD (TUSD) and USD Coin (USDC).

In order to assess the stablecoins, analysts primarily looked at the “quality of the assets backing the stablecoin.” Overall quality is measured by the custody risks, credit and market value. 

Read more: Tether is ‘unfairly maligned,’ but will eventually fail, says Nic Carter

Regulation, governance, supervision, liquidity, redeemability and technology are also measured, and “contributed to those stablecoins with lower assessments,” S&P said in a press release.

USDC, USDP and GUSD top the list, all receiving strong assessments. USDT, DAI and FDUSD were middle of the road or “constrained,” with evaluations that put them towards the weaker end. 

On the other hand, FRAX and TUSD are weak.

None of the stablecoins listed in the first assessment received a “very strong” evaluation, which is the highest grade.

S&P Global Ratings senior director Mohamed Damak told Blockworks that “out of the 8 stablecoins that we assessed, four were subject to a negative adjustment.”

The assessments are just that, Damak emphasized, they are not ratings of the stablecoins.

Read more: Circle’s liquidity coverage is about double US banks, chief economist says

“The consistent feedback was that the market has no transparency or insight into the inherent risks of the different stablecoins. Although the market is concentrated, as the DeFi ecosystem grows, we foresee a rising universe of coins and use cases,” Damak said.

Since the approach is applicable to many stablecoins — not just the above eight — S&P may expand its assessment in the future.

Outside of stablecoins, S&P is watching the digital assets sector with an eye on “operational and legal risk, blockchain oracle risk, crypto regulation and digital bonds.”


Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:

Tags

Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily, with Byron Gilliam.

Upcoming Events

Javits Center North | 445 11th Ave

Tues - Thurs, March 24 - 26, 2026

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

Old Billingsgate

Mon - Wed, October 13 - 15, 2025

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

Unlocked by Template (1).jpg

Research

As AI supercharges surveillance, privacy becomes a prerequisite and the winning stack will combine confidentiality with selective disclosure. Zcash’s Tachyon, composable standards on Ethereum/Solana, and compliance-aware pools aim to make private rails the new norm.

article-image

The deal gives Ondo Finance SEC-registered broker-dealer, ATS, and transfer agent licenses to operate regulated tokenized securities markets

by Blockworks /
article-image

Ethereum and Solana funds mark industry first as Grayscale adds staking to spot crypto products

by Blockworks /
article-image

US bitcoin ETFs that seen more than $2.2 billion of net inflows over the last four trading days

by Blockworks /
article-image

More than 75 million U.S. Galaxy owners gain integrated Coinbase One access through Samsung Wallet, with global rollout planned

by Blockworks /
article-image

The central bank signed agreements with firms for fraud, payments, and app services ahead of a potential launch

by Blockworks /
article-image

Experts agree that the shutdown will delay new crypto ETF approvals, but lawmakers seem keen to move ahead with legislative work