Bolt Launches Bolt Connect for Stablecoin Payments as Market Hits $228 Billion

Bolt, a prominent checkout and payments platform, has introduced 'Bolt Connect' to streamline the onboarding process for merchants and enable stablecoin payments. This move positions Bolt at the forefront of a significant industry transformation, where the stablecoin market capitalization has reached $228 billion. The launch of Bolt Connect comes on the heels of Bolt's strategic partnership with Palantir for AI-powered Checkout 2.0 and the introduction of Bolt’s SuperApp crypto hub.

Bolt Connect is designed to revolutionize marketplace onboarding by eliminating traditional barriers that often force marketplace operators to choose between growth velocity and technical complexity. The solution handles compliance, payouts, and backend infrastructure automatically, addressing critical pain points for marketplace operators who previously required significant development resources to onboard and support multiple sellers.

Stablecoin integration within Bolt Connect offers particular advantages for cross-border marketplace operations. Traditional international payments often involve multiple intermediaries, currency conversion fees, and settlement delays extending several business days. Stablecoins eliminate these friction points by enabling direct peer-to-peer transfers without the need for correspondent banking relationships. For merchants operating globally, stablecoin payouts offer immediate access to funds, eliminating the risk of foreign exchange volatility.

The timing of this development coincides with the dramatic growth of stablecoins across the payments sector. The total stablecoin market grew by $33 billion in 2025, driven by renewed trading activity and increased regulatory clarity. USDT maintains a $155 billion market cap while USDC reached a record $61 billion, growing 39% since January.

The broader payments ecosystem is rapidly embracing stablecoin infrastructure. Major players, including Stripe, Visa, Mastercard, and Fiserv, have all launched stablecoin initiatives in recent months. Traditional banks are following suit with JPMorgan, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo reportedly exploring joint stablecoin projects.

Stripe’s recent aggressive expansion includes Stablecoin Financial Accounts serving 101 countries, the acquisition of Privy wallet, and the integration of the Bridge platform. Visa’s recent partnership with Yellow Card enables stablecoin payments across 20 African countries, while its investment in BVNK validates the development of stablecoin infrastructure. Mastercard’s recent “360-degree” stablecoin approach enables 150 million merchants to accept digital dollar payments through partnerships with Circle and Paxos. Fiserv’s FIUSD launch on the Solana blockchain targets its 10,000-strong financial institution network to use stablecoin, while partnerships with PayPal explore PYUSD integration for cross-border transfers.

These developments suggest that stablecoins are transitioning from a cryptocurrency novelty to an essential payment infrastructure. The rapid adoption of stablecoins by major financial institutions and payment processors indicates a growing acceptance and integration of digital currencies into the mainstream financial system.