Stablecoin payment volume doubled: what counts as real payments
Stripe’s reported stablecoin payment volume doubled in 2025 to roughly US$400 billion, as reported by Tech in Asia. Headline figures like this are notable, but definitions materially affect what counts as a payment.
Based on data from McKinsey and Artemis Analytics, “real” stablecoin payments tied to goods, services, and remittances are about US$390 billion annually. The report notes roughly 60% is B2B stablecoin settlement, about US$226 billion, after an estimated 733% year-over-year rise in 2025.
These studies warn that raw on-chain transfer totals can include internal wallet moves, arbitrage, and liquidity management, activities that are not real-world payments. Methodology and scope should be clarified before comparing volumes.
Why this surge matters for merchants and payment teams
For merchants, the rise in real payments signals maturing use cases beyond trading. The data show growth concentrated in B2B corridors and remittances, which align with treasury and accounts payable priorities.
Stablecoin rails may help teams reduce friction in cross-border flows and improve reconciliation predictability. According to Payment Expert editor Rachael Kennedy, 2025 also brought stablecoins into enterprise RFPs and boardroom discussions, influencing product roadmaps.
Risk functions are prioritizing auditability and regulatory alignment. Providers emphasizing controls, reporting, and clear definitions are more likely to meet enterprise procurement thresholds.
Immediate impact: B2B settlement, remittances, AI merchant assistants
B2B stablecoin settlement is emerging as a primary driver of volume. Reported growth and enterprise pilots indicate interest in faster settlement windows and programmable disbursements, especially for cross-border suppliers.
Remittances and cross-border disbursements are also advancing. The appeal centers on cost transparency and speed, provided providers segregate real payments from trading-adjacent flows in their reporting.
On the commerce side, AI merchant assistant capabilities are moving from reactive chat to proactive suggestions, simulations, and controlled workflow automation. Early production trials stress human approval, clear rollback, and measurable KPIs.
Regulation and platform signals shaping adoption
Federal Reserve commentary on regulated stablecoins
Regulatory posture remains a gating factor for enterprise-scale adoption. A notable signal is supportive commentary from U.S. monetary authorities on the role of well-regulated dollar stablecoins in payments.
“Regulated stablecoins can boost the global reach of the U.S. dollar,” said Christopher Waller, Governor, Federal Reserve, emphasizing the importance of regulation for institutional confidence and risk standards.
Shopify Sidekick and Instacart trial highlights
Shopify has upgraded its AI merchant assistant, Sidekick, from reactive support to proactive storefront guidance and store simulation tooling (“SimGym”), as reported by Modern Retail. These features let teams test merchandising or settings changes with AI shopper agents before production.
Instacart is piloting enterprise-grade AI tools with retailers, including a program with Sprouts Farmers Market, as reported by Retail Brew. Trials span online and in-store experiences, pairing personalization with retailer analytics.
At the time of this writing, Coinbase Global, Inc. (COIN) traded around US$158.47, down 1.10% intraday on delayed data. This market color is provided for background only.
FAQ about stablecoin payment volume
How does Stripe’s reported stablecoin volume compare with industry estimates for real payments?
Stripe reportedly doubled to ~US$400B in 2025 (Tech in Asia), while industry “real payments” are ~US$390B annually (McKinsey/Artemis). Methodologies differ, so comparisons are directional.
Which retailers and platforms are piloting AI merchant assistants, and what tasks can they safely automate today?
Shopify is trialing Sidekick and store simulation; Instacart pilots enterprise tools with Sprouts. Safe tasks include recommendations, content drafts, analytics summaries, and pre-approved workflow automations.
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