The total supply of stablecoins has officially surpassed $300 billion, solidifying its position as a critical infrastructure for the global economy. According to the Stablecoin Utility Report 2026, published by payments firm BVNK in collaboration with Coinbase and Artemis, the use of these assets has transcended financial speculation to become a daily payment tool in 15 countries, based on a survey of more than 4,600 users and businesses.
Reaching $300 billion represents an unprecedented evolution in the architecture of the digital financial system. To understand the magnitude of this figure, it’s necessary to look at the historical context: during the 2021-2022 bull market, the stablecoin supply barely reached $160 billion, and its use was 90% tied to trading on exchanges.
The current 87% growth compared to those peaks is not due to market volatility, but rather to the integration of solutions that facilitate cross-border payments and protect value against local inflation.
It’s important to highlight that currently, 39% of existing users already receive income, such as salaries or payments for freelance services, in stablecoins. For this segment, these assets represent, on average, 35% of their annual income, demonstrating that stablecoins are no longer a “stopgap asset,” but a primary savings account for millions of workers in emerging markets.
The impact of low-latency networks and the macro environment
Unlike 2024, when Ethereum dominated volume, by 2026 more than 60% of daily stablecoin transactions will be settled on Layer 2 (L2) networks and high-speed blockchains like Solana.
This technological shift has reduced transaction fees to negligible levels (less than $0.01), allowing 27% of holders to use their funds for small, everyday purchases. In regions like Southeast Asia and Africa, the growth in the supply of USDT and USDC is directly correlated with the depreciation of local currencies against the dollar, functioning as a parallel banking system that operates 24/7 without the restrictions of traditional correspondent banks.
Regulation and transparency of reserves
Despite optimism about reaching $300 billion, the market must remain attentive to the full implementation of regulatory frameworks such as the MiCA Act in Europe. The sustainability of this supply depends on the transparency of the issuers; currently, firms like Circle and Tether have increased their exposure to US Treasury bonds, becoming systemic players that even central banks are closely monitoring.
With 13% of new users planning to adopt stablecoins in the next six months, the trend indicates that the supply could reach half a trillion dollars before the end of the decade, definitively transforming global liquidity and the mobility of money in the digital age.
