Keyrock and Bitso Predict Stablecoins Will Redefine Global Payments by 2030
Stablecoin payment volumes are on track to exceed $1 trillion annually by the end of this decade, according to a Thursday report from crypto market maker Keyrock and Latin American exchange Bitso. The study points to surging institutional adoption across business-to-business (B2B), peer-to-peer (P2P), and card payment channels as key drivers of this growth.
Stablecoins Outpacing Traditional Payment Systems
The report highlights that stablecoins are quickly gaining an edge over traditional payment methods due to faster settlement times and lower costs. Sending $200 through a bank could incur fees of up to 13% and take days to process, while a stablecoin transaction can clear in seconds at a fraction of the price.
Foreign exchange (FX) settlement emerged as one of the largest untapped opportunities. The $7.5 trillion-a-day FX market still largely operates on a T+2 settlement cycle through correspondent banks. On-chain FX using stablecoins, the authors noted, could enable atomic swaps with near-instant settlement, drastically reducing counterparty risks.
Cross-Border Payments Poised for Transformation
Stablecoins could also make significant inroads into cross-border transactions. The report forecasts that with better regulatory clarity, higher liquidity, and improved interoperability, stablecoins could handle as much as 12% of all cross-border payment flows by 2030.
Such efficiencies could see every major fintech firm integrating stablecoin infrastructure in the coming years—similar to how software-as-a-service (SaaS) tools became mainstream. In practice, this could mean payment platforms and wallets moving value on-chain, treasury desks holding stablecoins to earn yield, and merchants settling instantly in multiple currencies.
Macro Implications and Market Impact
The report also notes that the rise of stablecoins—currently valued at $260 billion in market capitalization—could influence monetary policy. In a bullish scenario, stablecoin supply could reach 10% of the U.S. M2 money supply, up from 1% today. This growth could also mean stablecoins representing about a quarter of the U.S. Treasury bill market, potentially influencing how the Federal Reserve manages short-term interest rates.
With payments, FX, and cross-border transactions set for disruption, the next decade may position stablecoins as one of the most impactful forces in global finance—reshaping how money moves across borders and between institutions.
Also read: The Stablecoin Loophole Banks Want Companies to Use
