A decade ago, it was thought the banks would win.
Now? Stablecoins are doing $27T+ a year, more than Visa & Mastercard combined.
What started as an experiment is becoming the new global payment layer.
Will stablecoins fulfill crypto’s promise, or be captured by the old guard?
A decade ago it was a common belief that the future of payments would be dominated by traditional financial giants. But stablecoins are proving to be the real game-changer. This isn't just a niche trend; it's a fundamental shift in how money moves.
Stablecoin transaction volume has surged to over $27 trillion annually, officially surpassing the combined transaction volume of Visa and Mastercard.
This growth is driven by major players embracing the technology:
@Stripe acquired Bridge to build a global commerce backbone on stablecoins.
@Fiserv launched a bank-friendly stablecoin, FIUSD, to integrate with traditional finance.
@Visa is actively developing its own tokenized asset networks.
@Circle is pushing for a U.S. banking charter, aiming to legitimize stablecoins as a core part of the financial system.
This is more than just faster payments. It's about a new, global monetary operating system that offers instant, low-cost transactions, even in developing countries.
The debate is no longer whether stablecoins will reshape money, but whether they will be controlled by the same old gatekeepers or fulfill crypto's original promise of democratizing finance. The race is on, and the stakes are high.
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