The modernization of payment infrastructure in recent years aims to solve a number of issues related to speed, cost, inclusion, transparency, availability, and global integration. In this context, stablecoins are emerging as a response to the bottlenecks in the financial transfer market, with transaction volumes that could surpass traditional payments in less than a decade.
In an article published in FXC Intelligence, industry experts suggested that programmability will be a key area for stable digital currencies, and through it, a range of opportunities will arise for various sectors of the economy. Among the possibilities in an international context are: commercial payments upon delivery of goods and verification of milestones; real-time payroll payments, enabling global payroll settlement; and merchant settlements in marketplaces.
Factors like the approval of the Genius Act in the United States, which establishes guidelines for the use, issuance, and maintenance of stablecoins, are also boosting the use of this type of cryptocurrency. In the view of MoneyGram’s Director of Product and Technology, Luke Tuttle, this approval eliminates regulatory pressure and allows the market to focus on stablecoin use and solutions.
Consumers, Businesses, and Institutions Benefit
The use of stablecoins is moving beyond the crypto universe to become a concrete and versatile solution for consumers, businesses, and financial institutions. In the context of international payments, companies can already leverage these stable digital currencies on several fronts.
In retail and consumption, stablecoins enable instant peer-to-peer payments, international remittances, and even programmable loyalty and credit programs. From a business perspective, they facilitate B2B payments with near-instant settlement, integration of financial solutions into marketplaces, and the use of token-based cash management tools.
At the institutional level, stablecoins enable services such as interbank settlement, tokenization of real-world assets, on-chain international financial transactions, and even decentralized lending.
The breadth of these applications allows companies to adapt their strategy according to their size, sector, and expansion goals. To do this, it is essential to assess the potential impact and map out an adoption roadmap, prioritizing initiatives with the highest operational and financial return.
Reasons to Pay with Stablecoins
While traditional cross-border payments are still predominant, they have limitations compared to using stablecoins. One of the main benefits is the speed of transactions, since legacy systems can take one to five business days. In cases of perishable goods, payment delays can cause friction and losses for the parties involved. With stablecoins, near-instant settlement eliminates this problem.
Another aspect that encourages the use of digital currencies is the reduced cost. While international transfers incur fees of $15 to $50 per transaction or 1.5% to 3.5% on credit cards, the corresponding value for stablecoin transactions is less than $0.10. By operating without borders, with minimal or even non-existent exchange fees, they distance themselves from the intermediation and additional exchange fees applied in traditional systems.
Operating via blockchain is also a key differentiator of the digital economy, promoting security, transparency, and programmability. Automation, essential for smart contracts, reduces manual risks and enables programmability, as shown in the article by Matt Higginson and Garry Spanz for McKinsey. Despite the cryptographic security, it’s important to be aware of the risk of key or wallet theft.
Beyond being a solution for large companies, the use of stablecoins provides opportunities for emerging markets that often suffer from high inflation and a lack of access to banking services for the population. This enables the emergence of new commercial horizons and democratizes the financial system.
