Stablecoins as payment: why Visa, Stripe and PayPal step in

Stablecoins are the quiet engine of the crypto market. They rarely make the front page, but by now the largest payment companies in the world are building their future on them. We explain what stablecoins are and why Visa, Stripe and PayPal are betting on them.

What is a stablecoin?

A stablecoin is a cryptocurrency whose value is pegged to a stable reference, usually the euro or the dollar. One euro stablecoin is therefore meant to always be worth about one euro. Stablecoins thus combine the best of two worlds: the speed and borderlessness of crypto, without the wild price swings of Bitcoin or Ethereum.

Why payment giants are stepping in

Here it gets interesting. Large payment companies like Visa, Stripe and PayPal now use stablecoins to settle payments. The reasons are obvious:

• Speed: an international transfer that normally takes days is settled in seconds with stablecoins.
• Low costs: no expensive intermediaries, especially for cross-border payments.
• Always open: blockchains run 24/7, including on weekends and holidays.

Many of these services run on fast, cheap networks like Solana. The result: stablecoins are shifting from a trading instrument within crypto to a real means of payment in the ordinary economy.

And the rules?

With growth comes oversight. Under the European MiCA rules, stablecoins must meet strict requirements, and not every coin is allowed for European users. Compliant euro and dollar stablecoins (such as USDC) are therefore gaining ground, while non-compliant coins disappeared from many platforms. Read more about this in our MiCA dossier.

What does this mean for you?

For the ordinary user this mainly means convenience: faster and cheaper payments, including across borders. Want to get started with crypto and stablecoins yourself? Then choose a regulated platform and check the current bonuses of our partners.