The expansion is being driven by two forces. Institutions are integrating stablecoins into payment and settlement systems, while users in inflation-hit economies are adopting dollar-pegged tokens as a practical store of value and payment tool.
Usage Shifts Away From DeFi Trading
Bloomberg data shows stablecoin transaction flows rose 81% year-on-year in 2025, but the share of volume tied to decentralized crypto platforms declined. Data from Artemis shows usage shifting toward real-world payments rather than trading and yield strategies.
Artemis co-founder Anthony Yim said the change reflects growing demand for US dollar stablecoins in emerging markets facing currency instability and geopolitical stress. In those regions, stablecoins are being used to move money, pay for goods, and preserve value rather than rotate capital within crypto markets.
Despite this shift, USDC remained the most used stablecoin by transaction flow, processing $18.3 trillion in 2025. USDT followed with $13.3 trillion. Together, the two tokens accounted for more than 95% of the $33 trillion in total stablecoin volume recorded last year, which marked a 72% increase from 2024.
USDT Leads as Stablecoin Market Expands
While USDC leads in transaction volume, USDT continues to dominate by market capitalization. Tether’s stablecoin holds a market cap of $186.9 billion, compared with $74.9 billion for USDC. Bloomberg noted that USDT remains the preferred stablecoin for everyday payments, business settlements, and long-term holding, while USDC remains dominant across decentralized finance platforms.
The broader stablecoin market currently totals $312 billion. In April, the U.S. Treasury estimated the market could grow to $2 trillion by 2028, even before factoring in longer-term projections like Bloomberg’s 2030 forecast.
Policy developments are accelerating adoption. After U.S. President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law in July, both Canada and the UK renewed efforts to introduce stablecoin regulations in 2026 or earlier. The move signals a shift toward formal integration of stablecoins into national financial systems.
Earlier this week, financial giant Barclays bought a stake in US-based stablecoin company Ubyx.
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