Interest in stablecoins is surging across the U.S. corporate landscape, with nearly one in three Fortune 500 executives now exploring ways to integrate them into business operations. According to Coinbase’s newly released 2025 State of Crypto report, 29% of surveyed leaders said their firms are either planning to use or are actively evaluating stablecoin adoption—up sharply from just 8% the year prior.
This threefold year-over-year increase reflects growing appetite for blockchain-powered financial tools within major enterprises. While only 7% of respondents currently hold or use stablecoins, the report points to accelerating momentum—particularly in treasury operations, cross-border payments, and financial infrastructure upgrades.
Executives cited inefficiencies in traditional financial systems—such as high fees and sluggish settlement speeds—as primary motivators. In an increasingly globalized business environment, stablecoins offer programmable, near-instant settlement with lower operational costs, making them an attractive option for companies eyeing competitive advantages in real-time finance.
Main Street Joins the Stablecoin Revolution
It’s not just Fortune 500 giants making moves—small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are also doubling down on stablecoin adoption. Of 251 financial decision-makers surveyed at companies with fewer than 500 employees, 81% expressed strong interest in using stablecoins, up from 61% just one year ago. Nearly half (46%) said they expect to begin using crypto within the next three years.
The driver is clear: operational efficiency. SMBs, often more vulnerable to the friction of outdated banking systems, are seeking streamlined alternatives. High transaction fees, long settlement times, and bureaucratic bottlenecks in cross-border payments have spurred a search for more adaptive tools.
Stablecoins present a compelling solution. Their programmable nature allows for automated workflows, reduced remittance friction, and faster vendor and payroll disbursements—particularly useful for companies operating across borders or working with underbanked regions.
Coinbase reports that more than 82% of surveyed SMBs believe crypto could address at least one major financial pain point. For Main Street, stablecoins are no longer a future concept—they’re becoming part of the now.
Stablecoin Transfer Volume Surpasses Visa and Mastercard
The growing interest in stablecoins among U.S. businesses mirrors a larger global trend: stablecoins are quietly overtaking legacy payment giants. According to Coinbase’s 2025 data, monthly organic stablecoin transfers hit a peak of $719 billion in December 2024, with April 2025 following closely at $717 billion.
Across the full year of 2024, stablecoin transaction volumes totaled $27.6 trillion—surpassing the combined annual volume of Visa and Mastercard by 7.7%. This isn’t just a symbolic win for blockchain finance; it signals a restructuring of how value moves across borders, platforms, and sectors.
Ownership growth underscores the trend. As of May 2025, over 161 million people globally held stablecoins—more than the combined populations of the ten largest global cities, and well beyond the 142 million users of America’s top four banking apps (JPMorgan, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citibank).
Corporate and government interest is also heating up. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi recently revealed that the company is exploring stablecoins to streamline international driver payments and reduce fee burdens. Meanwhile, a Fireblocks study found that 90% of institutional players are evaluating stablecoin use cases in custody, settlements, and B2B transactions.
On the geopolitical front, stablecoin innovation is being treated as a strategic imperative. In April, Russia’s Ministry of Finance floated the idea of a state-backed stablecoin. That same month, three Abu Dhabi-based institutions unveiled a dirham-pegged digital currency—further evidence that stablecoins are evolving into the backbone of next-generation financial infrastructure.
Quick Facts
- 29% of Fortune 500 executives are exploring stablecoin adoption, up from 8% in 2024.
- Among SMBs, 81% are now interested in stablecoins, up from 61% last year.
- In 2024, stablecoins facilitated $27.6 trillion in transactions—7.7% more than Visa and Mastercard combined.
- Over 161 million people now hold stablecoins, exceeding the user bases of top U.S. banking apps.
- Uber, Fireblocks, and multiple sovereign institutions are actively exploring or implementing stablecoin strategies.
