Crypto ownership is expanding worldwide, but holding digital assets remains very different from using them for groceries, subscriptions or routine purchases. The gap between investment adoption and payment adoption remains one of cryptocurrency’s biggest challenges.

Easier access through regulated exchanges, mobile wallets and exchange-traded products has moved crypto beyond its early technology-focused audience. Stablecoins provide an even clearer indication of blockchain usage as their relatively stable prices make them more practical for transferring value.

According to Chainalysis, stablecoins processed about USD 28 trillion in adjusted economic volume in 2025. The firm projects organic volume could reach USD 719 trillion by 2035 if adoption continues. 

Yet high blockchain volume does not mean consumers routinely pay merchants with crypto.

Bitcoin and many cryptocurrencies can move sharply within short periods. Someone expecting Bitcoin to appreciate may prefer holding it rather than spending it, while merchants generally want predictable settlement values.

Stablecoins reduce this problem by tracking currencies such as the US dollar. Their strongest use cases increasingly include cross-border transfers, business settlement, remittances and treasury operations rather than everyday retail purchases. 

Cards, instant bank transfers and mobile-payment applications already provide familiar interfaces, fraud controls and broad merchant acceptance. Crypto payments can require selecting the correct blockchain, checking wallet addresses, managing network fees and understanding transaction finality.

Consumer trust also matters. Visa’s 2026 remittance research covering more than 45,000 people across 20 countries found US willingness to use stablecoins increased from 36% to 56% when bank-level fraud protection and deposit insurance were included. 

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