Stablecoins Overtake Visa and Mastercard in On-Chain Volume

- Stablecoins achieve a 7% higher transaction volume than Visa and Mastercard. - Drivers include rapid adoption, financial platforms integration, and regulatory clarity. Stablecoins are emerging as the default settlement layer for the internet, as their on-chain transaction volume now surpasses that of traditional payment giants like Visa and Mastercard. On June 29, 2025, Cointelegraph reported this landmark development, noting that stablecoins deliver fast, secure, and cost-efficient global transactions. This surge in adoption has propelled stablecoins to achieve an on-chain transaction volume 7% greater than Visa and Mastercard. In addition, leading platforms like PayPal and Stripe have integrated stablecoins into their systems, leveraging blockchain technology to optimize payment efficiency. Alchemy, a blockchain infrastructure provider, collaborates with key financial players—including Visa, Stripe, Circle, and PayPal—to expand stablecoin adoption. A major driver of stablecoin growth is their dominance in cross-border payments, where their speed and minimal fees make them highly competitive. Their use in emerging financial ecosystems, such as prediction markets, also underscores their adaptability. Regulatory clarity has further accelerated progress, as the recently enacted Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act in the United States provides a solid framework for stablecoin innovation. Experts anticipate this legislation will foster institutional adoption and ensure compliance and security in the evolving financial landscape. Despite these advancements, underlying blockchain networks still face scalability challenges, which are often exacerbated by ecosystem fragmentation. However, experts predict that financial institutions will address these issues by creating tailored layer 2 blockchains. These custom solutions will enhance scalability and enable enterprise-grade cross-chain interoperability. According to market data from June 29 at 15:15 UTC, Tether USDt (USDT) remains stable at $1.00, with a -0.003% change over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, USD Coin (USDC) is trading at $1.00, reflecting a 0.012% change, and USDD (USDD) is priced at $1.00, with a -0.023% movement within the same period.