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As 2025 draws to a close, it is fair to say this year fundamentally changed the conversation around stablecoins.
While the world was fixated on AI, stablecoins quietly became the settlement layer of the internet. According to Visa’s on-chain analytics, monthly transaction volumes related to payments shattered records, surging past $1.4 trillion in the final quarter of 2025. Crucially, this is 'adjusted' volume, adjusting for inorganic activity from bots and other artificially inflationary practices. By looking past the noise, we see the real picture: genuine economic usage. It proves that stablecoins have grown, operating at a scale that now stands on par with traditional payment rails. a16zcrypto’s 2025 state of crypto report highlights this growth, showing stablecoin payment volumes rivaling the world’s largest payment networks.
Regulation is no longer a constraint or a side topic; it is the entry ticket.
In the US, the GENIUS Act opened the door to a truly regulated digital dollar. In Europe, MiCA transformed the region into the world’s most structured environment for digital assets.
The message is simple: if you want to be in this market, you must be regulated.
Consequently, we saw a massive shift in momentum. Every major financial jurisdiction is transitioning because the utility is undeniable.
Institutions stopped testing → and started deploying.
From Stripe and PayPal to BlackRock and Société Générale, institutional adoption accelerated fast. Leading payment institutions made significant moves into the space such as Stripe with the acquisition of Bridge and the rumoured acquisition of ZeroHash by Mastercard. Every payment institution needs to have a stablecoin strategy!
At Fipto, we didn’t just observe this shift from the sidelines - we leaned into it.
We recognised early on that the B2B cross-border sector was ready for a fundamental shift towards greater transparency and speed. To meet that demand, we secured key strategic alliances to bridge the gap between blockchain and the corporate world:
- Worldline: We launched a strategic collaboration to integrate stablecoins into European payment infrastructure.
- TerraPay: We powered the adoption of stablecoin-native flows, leveraging blockchain rails to release pressure on working capital and increase settlement speed.
- Kyriba: We integrated directly into the world’s leading liquidity management platform, bringing blockchain capabilities straight to the CFO’s desk.
But partnerships are only as strong as the infrastructure behind them. This year, we delivered a powerful product roadmap anchored by a unique regulatory setup:
- Payment Institution Licence & VASP registration: We secured our PI licence alongside our VASP registration, ensuring full compliance across traditional and digital payments.
- Batch Payments: clients can now execute hundreds of transfers in one click.
- SEPA Instant Support: We enabled real-time deposits/payins, eliminating settlement latency to ensure our clients have immediate access to liquidity.
- Multi-Chain Support: We expanded our native support to USDC on Solana, USDC and EURC on Base, and EURC on Ethereum.
- Travel Rule Support: ensuring transactions remain fully compliant with the latest EU regulations.
- Verification of Payee (VoP): a critical layer to combat fraud and ensure funds always reach the intended recipient.
You could feel this energy at every major industry gathering. At Money20/20 Las Vegas, the hot topic was unmistakable: Stablecoin payments are the new infrastructure currency of the digital economy. We saw the rise of the first dedicated stablecoin events, including Stablecon and Stablecoin Conference LATAM.
We also became thought leaders of the “stablecoin sandwich” (all rights reserved to its inventor Goldi), our slides went all over the internet and anybody searching for it would land on it. As the market is maturing, our focus is now on stablecoin-native flows, where one side of the transaction remains on-chain. The most fundamental use case is not fiat/stablecoin/fiat, it’s stablecoin/fiat or fiat/stablecoin.
Where we stand now: A transformational moment.
Regulation is becoming the defining competitive moat. The winners of the next era won’t be the loudest; they will be the most compliant, secure, and interoperable. With our PI and DASP licensing, Fipto holds a structural advantage as MiCA pushes unverified players to either obtain proper authorisation or fall away entirely.
So, what comes next?
If 2025 was about adoption, 2026 will be about automation and intelligent treasury.
We are entering a year where distinct lines between traditional fintech and crypto-rails will blur completely. We are moving fast towards offering our users sophisticated treasury management features - fully automating on/off-ramp workflows with trigger events for seamless conversions. (More on that soon).
And looking just a little further ahead? We are reimagining how your idle cash works for you. Imagine generating yield even during traditional bank cut-off times. That is the future we are building.
We’re always happy to meet you and discuss stablecoins at events, or during our Stablecoins & Croissants sessions. I’m taking the opportunity to announce that Fipto is a sponsor of Money 20/20 Europe.
All indicators point towards a supercharged 2026: regulatory clarity is maturing, corporate adoption is accelerating, and global payment infrastructure is being rewritten on stablecoin rails.
A massive thank you to our clients and partners for your trust, and to the incredible Fipto team for your relentless dedication.
Watch this space. We are just getting started.
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