Stablecoins as a Strategic Tool for Modern Corporate Treasurers

In the ever-evolving landscape of corporate finance, treasurers are increasingly turning to stablecoins to address long-standing challenges in operational efficiency and cross-border liquidity management. These digital assets, pegged to fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar, are not just a speculative curiosity-they're becoming a foundational tool for enterprises seeking to optimize global operations. From reducing settlement times to cutting costs and automating workflows, stablecoins are reshaping how corporations handle liquidity in a borderless, digital-first world.

Operational Efficiency: Cutting Costs and Time

Traditional cross-border payments are riddled with inefficiencies: intermediaries, currency conversion fees, and settlement delays that can stretch for days. Stablecoins disrupt this model by enabling near-instant, peer-to-peer transactions with minimal friction. According to PwC, corporations leveraging stablecoins can bypass traditional banking infrastructure, achieving real-time settlement and 24/7 liquidity access. This is particularly transformative for high-volume B2B transactions, contractor payments, and payroll disbursements, where speed and cost predictability are critical.

Data from EY-Parthenon underscores this shift: 41% of organizations using stablecoins report cost reductions of at least 10%, primarily in cross-border B2B transactions. For context, traditional cross-border payments can cost anywhere from 5% to 15% of the transaction value, depending on the corridor and intermediary fees. Stablecoins eliminate much of this overhead by operating on blockchain networks like Ethereum or Solana, where transactions settle in seconds and fees are often fractions of a cent.

Cross-Border Liquidity Optimization: A New Paradigm

Liquidity management across borders has always been a balancing act. Treasurers must pre-fund accounts in multiple currencies, navigate volatile exchange rates, and contend with liquidity constraints in markets with underdeveloped banking infrastructure. Stablecoins offer a solution by acting as a universal, always-on liquidity layer.

Thunes, a cross-border payments platform, provides a compelling case study. By partnering with Circle to use USDC, Thunes slashed settlement times in key corridors like Ghana, the Philippines, and South Africa from days to minutes. This not only improved operational efficiency but also freed up working capital that was previously tied up in pre-funded accounts. The ability to access liquidity 24/7/365, without waiting for bank clearing cycles, has become a game-changer for corporations operating in regions with limited financial infrastructure.

Fireblocks further highlights how stablecoins enable treasurers to design automated liquidity workflows, reducing manual intervention and human error. For example, programmable smart contracts can trigger payments based on predefined conditions, such as inventory thresholds or invoice confirmations. This level of automation is difficult to achieve with traditional banking systems, which rely on batch processing and manual approvals.

From Experimentation to Strategic Adoption

Stablecoins are no longer a niche experiment. As SAP Taulia notes, they are transitioning into a strategic tool for corporate treasuries, offering programmability and transparency that align with modern financial management goals. For instance, blockchain-based stablecoins allow treasurers to track every transaction in real time, providing granular visibility into cash flows and reducing the risk of fraud or misallocation.

The urgency for adoption is also growing. EY-Parthenon reports that 54% of non-users plan to adopt stablecoins within the next 12–18 months, driven by cost savings, speed, and the need to stay competitive in a digital economy. This trend is particularly pronounced in emerging markets, where stablecoins can circumvent capital controls and provide a reliable medium of exchange.

The Road Ahead

While challenges remain-regulatory uncertainty, volatility risks for non-pegged stablecoins, and integration complexities-the benefits are hard to ignore. For treasurers, the key will be to adopt stablecoins strategically, starting with high-impact use cases like cross-border payments and payroll, while building robust governance frameworks to manage risks.

As the financial system continues to digitize, stablecoins are not just a tool for efficiency-they're a bridge to a new era of global liquidity. For corporations willing to embrace this shift, the rewards are clear: faster operations, lower costs, and a competitive edge in an increasingly interconnected world.