For all of us who have been awake for the last 2 years, the adoption of stablecoins is no longer a surprise. In 2024 alone, they accounted for nearly half of all transactions on the Fireblocks platform—representing 15% of global stablecoin volume. But where they are leveraged, for what use case, and how is not always clear.
We asked ~300 payment providers and banks around the globe all about it, and found fascinating trends shared in the State of Stablecoins report.
TL:DR — the industry is gearing up for prime time
- Speed beats savings. 48% cite real-time settlement as the #1 edge; lower fees comes in last. Stablecoins are now seen as a growth lever, not a cost play. (and some might say speed = savings) ((stablecoins helped WorldPay speed up settlement time by 50%))
- Execution-ready infrastructure. 86% say their wallets, APIs, and compliance tooling can handle stablecoin flows (Zeebu, a B2B Telecom company, has processed $5.7B with web3 payments – this is no joke)
- Regulation is now a tailwind. 85% see new rules and standards as green lights, not red tape— in 2023, only 25%said regulation was not a barrier. (Banking Circle is inspiring trusted adoption with their MiCa regulated stablecoin, EURI).
- Enterprise-grade is the new bar. When asked what decides infrastructure provider selection, 41 % said “Fast and reliable payouts,” while 34% named compliance as key. Payments at scale need both. (why else are 300+ of the top payments companies and banks choosing Fireblocks 😉 )
Regional reality check
And while this is a global movement, it’s playing out differently in each region.
Latin America is moving the fastest. Demand is high, infrastructure is in place, and 71% of firms are already using stablecoins for cross-border payments. For many, stablecoins aren’t optional—they’re the only way to deliver the kind of speed and cost-efficiency customers expect.
Asia is scaling with intent. Nearly half of the respondents say their top driver is market expansion. Stablecoins are becoming essential infrastructure for trade-heavy industries, where fast liquidity and reliable settlement are mission-critical.
North America is turning a corner, and after almost two years of stagnation, 88% now view regulation as a green light, and the focus is shifting from “can we?” to “where should we start?”
Europe is moving with precision. MiCA has initiated regulatory clarity, and security is front and center. Firms here are pushing for safer rails and stronger fraud protection as they modernize legacy payments infrastructure.
Infrastructure that walks the talk
Whether you’re launching a digital currency or rethinking global payments, success starts with infrastructure that supports your journey – it scales with ambition, withstands scrutiny (that is becoming greater with the additional regulations introduced globally for digital assets), and delivers in production.
4 in 5 of today’s leaders cite infrastructure readiness and 86% say they already have the partnerships they need to support their stablecoin integration strategy. They are choosing platforms that embed compliance, automate liquidity, and move money at internet speed. You’ve already seen the data about enterprise-grade being the new bar, so you know infrastructure isn’t back-office plumbing—it’s the front line of competitive advantage.
We’re proud to be the infrastructure of choice for hundreds of the stablecoin ecosystem’s leaders.
