Bitcoin could emerge as one of the biggest winners of a compromise on stablecoin rules as crypto policy discussions return to Washington, DC this week after weeks of stalled negotiations between banks and the digital asset industry.
According to Dave Weisberger, Wall Street veteran and co-founder of crypto trading platform CoinRoutes, a framework that restricts stablecoins from paying yield on idle balances could strengthen Bitcoin’s role as a savings asset within the crypto economy.
"If stablecoins held in accounts are not allowed to pay yield, that may be the single most bullish scenario for Bitcoin that could emerge from this debate," Weisberger said on X on 16 Mar as policymakers and industry executives are gathering in the US capital again this week.
"I certainly will not defend the banks in what they're saying here. But I think it is extremely important for people to look through the forest for the trees here, because it is not priced in," he added.
The comments came as Bitcoin climbed roughly 1.6% during the US trading session on Monday, extending a recovery that has pushed the cryptocurrency more than 12% higher over the past week and back above the $74,000 level.
The renewed market attention comes as lawmakers, regulators and industry executives meet in the US capital during events including the DC Blockchain Summit hosted by the Digital Chamber, where discussions are expected to focus on reviving negotiations around the CLARITY Act.
Talks over whether stablecoins should be allowed to offer yield have become one of the biggest sticking points in the legislation, pitting banking groups worried about deposit competition against crypto firms seeking broader functionality for dollar-backed tokens.
Stablecoin yield fight nears potential compromise
At the center of the negotiations is whether stablecoins should be allowed to offer yield to holders.
Banking groups have pushed back strongly against the idea, arguing that interest-bearing stablecoins could draw deposits away from the traditional financial system if crypto platforms offer higher returns than savings accounts.
According to several industry participants following the discussions, negotiators may be converging on a compromise in which stablecoins would not be allowed to pay yield when held in accounts, while rewards could still be distributed through transactions or payment-related activity on the network.
Such a framework would effectively position stablecoins as payment instruments rather than savings vehicles. "It means stablecoins become the spending vehicle, while assets like Bitcoin increasingly become the savings vehicle," Weisberger said.
Faster movement between cash and crypto
The model could further accelerate the integration of crypto into financial platforms as investors treat Bitcoin as a savings instrument while using stablecoins primarily for payments and transactions. "When CLARITY finally passes, banks and brokerages will be able to fully enter this marketplace," he added. "That creates incentives to promote these products and ultimately increases adoption."
