The Rise of Stablecoins in Latin America: Bitso's $80B Milestone and Its Implications for Institutional Adoption

The global financial landscape is undergoing a seismic shift as stablecoins emerge as a cornerstone of cross-border payments, institutional infrastructure, and decentralized finance. Nowhere is this transformation more evident than in Latin America, where Bitso's recent $80 billion total payment volume (TPV) milestone has signaled a tectonic shift in how businesses and institutions approach digital assets. Coupled with institutional megatrends like Binance's $2 billion stablecoin-backed investment from MGX and Coinbase's acquisition of Deribit, the stage is set for a new era of crypto infrastructure adoption. For investors, this represents a critical inflection point to re-evaluate exposure to stablecoin-driven ecosystems and the platforms enabling their growth.

Bitso's $80B Milestone: A Latin American Inflection Point

Bitso Business, the B2B arm of Mexico-based crypto exchange Bitso, recently surpassed $80 billion in annual TPV, becoming the first stablecoin payments platform in Latin America to achieve this threshold. This figure, which exceeds the GDP of over 100 countries, underscores the region's growing reliance on stablecoins for efficient, low-cost transactions. By integrating direct access to Mexico's 24/7 instant payment system, Bitso has positioned itself as a critical infrastructure provider for global enterprises operating in the region, facilitating over $15.6 billion in real-time payments alone.

The scale of Bitso's growth is further amplified by its retail division, which now serves over 9 million users globally, with 70% concentrated in Mexico. This dual focus on institutional and retail markets highlights a broader trend: stablecoins are no longer niche tools for speculative trading but foundational elements of financial infrastructure. As Bitso CEO Felipe Vallejo noted, the milestone reflects a "structural shift toward stablecoin-based infrastructure," driven by global enterprises seeking faster and cheaper payment solutions.

Binance's $2B Stablecoin Investment: Institutional Validation

In March 2025, Abu Dhabi-based investment firm MGX made a landmark $2 billion investment in Binance, the first institutional capital to directly fund a crypto exchange. Notably, the transaction was settled entirely in USD1, a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar and backed by U.S. Treasuries and cash equivalents. USD1's ownership structure-38% controlled by an LLC linked to Donald Trump and his family-adds a layer of institutional credibility, as MGX cited the stablecoin's "business suitability, the currency of the backing assets, and compliance history" as key factors in the decision.

This investment not only injected liquidity into Binance but also validated stablecoins as a viable medium for large-scale institutional transactions. By choosing USD1, MGX signaled confidence in stablecoin-backed infrastructure as a secure and scalable alternative to traditional fiat. As Forbes reported, the deal increased USD1's market cap and reinforced its legitimacy in the eyes of global investors. For the broader market, this represents a pivotal moment: stablecoins are no longer just tools for retail users but are now being adopted by institutional players to fund major capital moves.

Coinbase's Deribit Acquisition: Derivatives as a Gateway for Institutions

Coinbase's $2.9 billion acquisition of Deribit in late 2024 further underscores the institutionalization of crypto markets. Deribit, the world's largest platform for Bitcoin and Ethereum options, brought with it $185 billion in July 2025 trading volume and $60 billion in open interest. By integrating Deribit's infrastructure-designed for institutional and high-frequency traders-Coinbase has created a one-stop solution for spot, futures, perpetuals, and options trading.

This move aligns with a broader demand for sophisticated derivatives tools among institutional investors, who require tighter spreads, faster execution, and deeper liquidity to hedge portfolios and manage risk. As The Block noted, the acquisition positions Coinbase to dominate the derivatives market, a segment expected to grow as traditional financial institutions enter crypto. For investors, this signals a shift from speculative retail-driven markets to institutional-grade infrastructure, where stablecoins play a critical role in facilitating collateral, settlement, and liquidity.

Strategic Implications for Investors

The convergence of Bitso's regional dominance, Binance's stablecoin-backed capital infusion, and Coinbase's derivatives expansion points to a clear trend: stablecoins are becoming the bedrock of institutional crypto adoption. Investors should consider the following strategies to capitalize on this shift:

1. Infrastructure Providers: Prioritize platforms like Bitso that are building stablecoin-based payment networks in high-growth regions. Latin America's underbanked population and regulatory tailwinds make it a fertile ground for expansion.
2. Stablecoin Ecosystems: Allocate capital to stablecoin issuers and custodians with strong institutional backing, such as USD1, which has demonstrated scalability and regulatory compliance.
3. Derivatives Platforms: Target exchanges and infrastructure providers that offer institutional-grade derivatives, as these will be critical for managing risk in a crypto-asset portfolio.

Conclusion

The rise of stablecoins in Latin America and their adoption by global institutions mark a defining moment in crypto's evolution. Bitso's $80 billion milestone, Binance's USD1-backed investment, and Coinbase's Deribit acquisition collectively illustrate a shift from speculative hype to infrastructure-driven growth. For investors, the message is clear: the future of institutional crypto adoption lies in stablecoin-based ecosystems, and those who position early will reap the rewards of this transformative wave.