Stablecoins as the New Global Payment Infrastructure: Explosive Growth and Investment Opportunities in Cross-Border Markets

Stablecoins are rapidly redefining the global payment infrastructure, particularly in cross-border B2B and remittance markets. By leveraging blockchain technology, stablecoins offer near-instant, low-cost, and transparent settlements, addressing long-standing inefficiencies in traditional systems. This analysis explores the explosive growth in stablecoin transaction volumes, cost efficiencies, regulatory progress, and enterprise adoption, positioning stablecoin-enabling platforms and financial infrastructure firms as high-conviction investment targets.

Explosive Growth in Transaction Volumes

Stablecoins have surged as a dominant force in cross-border payments. In 2024, on-chain stablecoin transaction volumes reached $5.6 trillion, representing 40% of Visa’s global payments volume [4]. This growth is driven by their adoption in remittances and B2B settlements, with stablecoins accounting for 5.4% of global trade settlement in 2025 [3]. Emerging markets are leading the charge: 71% of Latin American businesses use stablecoins for cross-border payments [1], while 43% of B2B transactions in Southeast Asia now rely on stablecoins [4].

The cost advantages are stark. Traditional remittance services charge 6.6–12% fees, whereas stablecoins reduce these to under 1–3% [1]. For example, in Nigeria, stablecoins have become a lifeline for remittances, bypassing the inefficiencies of legacy systems [5]. Similarly, Argentina and Turkey, where hyperinflation erodes local currencies, see stablecoin transfers valued at $63 billion annually in Turkey alone (3.7% of its GDP) [5].

Regulatory Progress: U.S. Genius Act and Hong Kong’s Framework

Regulatory clarity is accelerating stablecoin adoption. The U.S. Genius Act of 2025 mandates 1:1 reserve backing for stablecoins using cash or U.S. Treasuries, ensuring financial stability while fostering innovation [1]. This framework also grants stablecoin holders senior creditor status in insolvency, enhancing trust [3]. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Stablecoins Ordinance, effective August 2025, requires 100% reserve backing and licenses for fiat-referenced stablecoin (FRS) issuers, aligning with global standards like the EU’s MiCA regulation [2].

Hong Kong’s approach is particularly strategic. By enabling RMB-stablecoins on decentralized blockchains, the city aims to become an offshore RMB hub, complementing China’s digital yuan (e-CNY) while offering greater interoperability [6]. Enterprises like Jingdong Coinlink (a JD.com subsidiary) are already testing stablecoin issuance under Hong Kong’s sandbox program, while Anchorpoint Financial (a joint venture with Standard Chartered) plans to launch licensed stablecoin platforms [2].

Enterprise Case Studies: Real-World Adoption

Enterprises are increasingly adopting stablecoins to streamline operations. Stripe now offers stablecoin accounts in 101 countries, enabling businesses to send and receive cross-border payments in minutes [3]. In Q3 2025, Circle’s USDC facilitated $18.6 billion in remittances to Southeast Asia, with recipients converting funds to local currencies via banking partnerships [1].

In B2B trade, stablecoins are revolutionizing vendor settlements and collateral transfers. A LinkedIn analysis notes that stablecoin usage in cross-border B2B payments grew 30× from early 2023 to June 2025, reaching $3 billion monthly [4]. This growth is driven by programmable escrow and T+0 settlements, eliminating the 3–6 day delays of traditional systems [4]. For instance, Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN) is exploring stablecoins for electronic Bill of Lading (eBL) transactions, reducing friction in global trade [2].

Investment Opportunities: Platforms and Infrastructure Firms

The rise of stablecoins creates compelling investment opportunities in three areas:
1. Stablecoin Issuers and Platforms: Firms like Circle (USDC) and JPMorgan (JPM Coin) are expanding their networks, with JPM Coin now supporting $63 billion in annual transfers [5].
2. Financial Infrastructure Providers: Companies enabling stablecoin integration, such as Stripe and Fireblocks, are scaling rapidly. Fireblocks’ report highlights that 71% of Latin American businesses use its infrastructure for cross-border stablecoin payments [1].
3. Regulatory-Compliant Sandboxes: Hong Kong’s sandbox program attracts innovators like Anchorpoint Financial, while U.S. firms benefit from the Genius Act’s clarity.

Conclusion: A New Era of Global Payments

Stablecoins are not just a technological innovation—they are a financial infrastructure revolution. With $8.9 trillion in on-chain volume processed in H1 2025 [4], and regulatory frameworks in the U.S. and Hong Kong providing stability, the stage is set for exponential growth. Investors should prioritize platforms that enable seamless, compliant cross-border transactions, as well as enterprises leveraging stablecoins to reduce costs and enhance transparency. The future of global payments is here, and it is stablecoin-driven.

Source:
[1] Global Insights: Stablecoin Payments & Infrastructure Trends, [https://www.fireblocks.com/report/state-of-stablecoins/]
[2] Hong Kong adopts new stablecoin regulatory framework, [https://www.tradefinanceglobal.com/posts/hong-kong-adopts-new-stablecoin-regulatory-framework-with-financial-innovation-in-mind/]
[3] Can Stablecoins Reshape Global Finance? - insights4.vc, [https://insights4vc.substack.com/p/can-stablecoins-reshape-global-finance]
[4] In-Depth Analysis of Stablecoins' Impact on Global Trade, [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/in-depth-analysis-stablecoins-impact-global-trade-telecom-fancy-wang-bo2yc]
[5] Stablecoin Adoption Reshapes Local Economies, [https://coinpedia.org/research-report/exclusive-insights-stablecoin-adoption-reshapes-local-economies/]
[6] A Strategic Guide to Hong Kong's Ordinance & APAC Trade, [https://payram.com/blog/the-rmb-stablecoin-a-leaders-guide-to-hong-kongs-ordinance-apac-trade]