Bitcoin News Today: Digital Assets Transition from Speculation to Global Payment Backbone

The former president of PayPal has affirmed that Bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency, has the technical potential to process trillions of dollars in daily transactions, positioning it as a viable alternative to traditional payment networks. This assertion aligns with recent industry trends showing rapid growth in blockchain-based payment systems, particularly stablecoins, which now handle annual transaction volumes rivaling those of major credit card companies.

The comments come amid a surge in institutional adoption of digital assets, with reports indicating that stablecoins alone processed over $46 trillion in transactions in 2025, a 106% increase from the prior year, according to an a16z report. This growth underscores the maturation of the crypto industry, as stablecoins increasingly serve as a settlement layer for both individuals and institutions. For less than a cent, users can now send dollars across the globe in under a second, a stark contrast to traditional systems like SWIFT, which often take days and incur higher fees, as noted in a Coindoo analysis.

The PayPal executive's remarks highlight Bitcoin's scalability, a long-debated topic in the crypto space. While Bitcoin's current throughput lags behind payment giants like Visa, advancements in layer-two solutions and network upgrades are closing the gap. Meanwhile, stablecoins—primarily denominated in U.S. dollars—have already demonstrated their capacity to handle massive transaction volumes, with Ethereum and Tron blockchains accounting for 64% of stablecoin activity, the Coindoo analysis shows.

Institutional confidence in stablecoins has also grown, driven by regulatory clarity and corporate adoption. The U.S. GENIUS Act and the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework have provided a legal foundation for stablecoin issuers, enabling firms like Circle and Paxos to expand their offerings. Citibank recently projected that stablecoins could reach a $4 trillion market cap by 2030, a figure that would enable daily transaction volumes in the billions, according to Coinotag coverage.

PayPal itself has been a key player in crypto adoption, having integrated Bitcoin and other digital assets into its payment ecosystem. While the company has not publicly committed to Bitcoin as a primary payment rail, its institutional investors—such as Norges Bank and Goldman Sachs—have shown continued support for its crypto initiatives, as noted in a MarketBeat note. The firm's Q3 2025 earnings report indicated a strategic focus on digital assets, with management signaling optimism about long-term growth in the space.

The surge in stablecoin usage has also drawn attention from central banks, which are studying how private digital currencies can inform the design of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). For now, stablecoins continue to outpace CBDCs in real-world adoption, particularly in emerging markets where they provide access to stable value and faster remittances, the Coindoo analysis finds.

As the crypto industry matures, the line between traditional finance and blockchain-based systems is blurring. With Bitcoin's underlying technology proving its scalability and stablecoins already processing trillions, the former PayPal president's assertion reflects a broader industry consensus: digital assets are no longer speculative tools but foundational infrastructure for global payments.