Crypto Payments Shift Focus to Trust and Compliance for Sustainable Growth

The crypto payments landscape is undergoing a significant shift, transitioning from speculative excitement to a focus on foundational development. As the industry matures, the emphasis is increasingly on building robust business-to-business (B2B) payment infrastructure, enhancing user experience (UX), and ensuring regulatory compliance. These elements are crucial for achieving scalability and mass adoption, according to Mike Romanenko, CVO and Founder of Kyrrex.

Trust and compliance infrastructure are becoming essential for sustainable growth in crypto payments. As the technology moves from early adopters to the mainstream, consumers and merchants require assurance that transactions are secure, auditable, and compliant with financial standards. Many businesses are voluntarily implementing industry best practices in compliance, custody, and identity verification. This shift is driven by a consensus that adoption relies on clarity rather than control, as seen in regulations like the EU’s MiCA and initiatives from the UAE, UK, and Hong Kong. The industry is now focusing on tools that enable transparent operations and reduce operational risk, integrating Know Your Customer (KYC), anti-money laundering (AML), and reporting standards into crypto payment platforms from the outset.

According to Chainalysis, illegal crypto activity reached about $40.9 billion in 2024. This highlights the importance of compliance technology in combating financial crime and building trust in the crypto arena. As the industry continues to develop, focusing on trust and solid compliance systems will be key for companies to grow sustainably. Those who prioritize this are more likely to succeed, while others might struggle to gain a foothold.

The development of crypto payments is heavily influenced by the need to make transactions easier and more practical for users. A notable example is the partnership between Stripe and Coinbase, which aims to streamline crypto transactions. Stripe has integrated support for USD Coin (USDC) on the Base network across its crypto product suite, facilitating faster and more cost-effective money transfers to over 150 countries. Coinbase has added Stripe’s fiat-to-crypto on-ramp into its wallet, allowing users to buy cryptocurrencies instantly using credit cards or Apple Pay. Traditional payment giants like Visa and Mastercard are also entering the crypto world. Visa has teamed up with a startup called Bridge to launch stablecoin-linked Visa cards, enabling customers in Latin America to spend crypto in their everyday shopping. These cards convert stablecoin balances into local currencies during transactions, making them easy to use at any store that accepts Visa. Mastercard is expanding its stablecoin features through partnerships with companies like Circle and Paxos, allowing merchants to accept payments in stablecoins. This move comes as stablecoin transactions have skyrocketed, reaching $35 trillion between February 2024 and February 2025. These collaborations show a clear trend: integrating crypto features with traditional finance to provide users and businesses with more flexible and efficient payment methods. By improving user experience and leveraging existing systems, these partnerships are key steps toward bringing crypto payments into everyday life.

Institutional blockchain networks are transforming the boundaries of enterprise transactions. One major innovation is the Regulated Settlement Network (RSN) Proof-of-Concept, conducted by U.S. financial industry participants. The initiative explored the potential of shared ledger technology for multi-asset and cross-network settlement of trades, such as tokenized U.S. Treasury securities and cash. The RSN demonstrated the possibility of a 24/7 programmable settlement infrastructure that could enhance liquidity management and reduce operational risk for financial institutions. Cross-border payment technology is also evolving, as indicated by the 2024 Financial Stability Board (FSB) report, which highlights advancements in standardizing payment systems. These include embracing the use of the ISO 20022 messaging standard and efforts to connect fast payment systems globally. These initiatives aim to make cross-border payments faster, less expensive, more transparent, and more inclusive, aligning with the G20’s roadmap objectives. By making standardization and interoperability feasible, these efforts are positioned to increase the efficiency and availability of cross-border transactions for international business.

As payment rails in companies mature, crypto is becoming not only feasible but strategically necessary for global businesses. Blockchain-based solutions are increasingly addressing the operational requirements of large corporations. Pioneering businesses are beginning to explore crypto as a way to optimize financial flexibility, balance treasury operations, and make payment infrastructure future-proof. However, integrating crypto into business processes requires careful partner selection. Companies must consider a provider’s compliance approach, integration with traditional finance infrastructure, and scalability across geographies. Licensing standing, interoperability, security practices, and institutional client expertise are essential considerations. Now that the infrastructure is falling into place, picking the right partner matters not just for delivery, but for surfing the new wave of cross-border crypto adoption.

The future of crypto payments will not be determined by hype but by the longevity and robustness of the infrastructure being built today. The trust and compliance architecture is paving the way for long-term expansion, with industry participants welcoming open standards that build institutional and consumer trust. Progress in user experience, as seen in Stripe and Coinbase or Visa and Mastercard stablecoin integrations, is also accelerating and standardizing crypto payments. Behind the scenes, enterprise-class developments in cross-border systems and settlement networks are enabling the scale required for global adoption. As infrastructure quietly transforms, crypto is solidifying itself as not an alternative, but as a natural layer in the future of finance.