Stablecoins: The New Infrastructure Reshaping Global Finance

Stablecoins are increasingly being positioned as a versatile tool for economic growth, extending their utility beyond cross-border transactions to support corporate finance, regulatory compliance, and technological innovation. In a recent interview with Caixin, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), co-founder of Binance, emphasized the broader applications of stablecoins in modernizing financial infrastructure. His remarks align with recent developments from industry players and policymakers, underscoring a growing consensus on their transformative potential.

One of the most tangible examples of this shift is the partnership between NU Blockchain Technologies and Dream Payments, which aims to integrate yield-bearing stablecoins into corporate treasury and international payment systems. The collaboration leverages stablecoins to enable real-time, programmable money movement, allowing enterprises to earn interest on idle balances while reducing the costs and delays associated with traditional wire transfers. Anthony Moro, CEO of NU, described stablecoins as "the new infrastructure layer for money itself," highlighting their role in streamlining operations for industries ranging from insurance to manufacturing.

The initiative reflects a broader trend as corporations seek alternatives to conventional treasury products amid high interest rates and rising foreign exchange costs. By offering a compliant, yield-generating framework, the partnership addresses a critical gap in global finance. For instance, franchise operators can now pay suppliers and staff internationally in seconds while earning returns on operational capital, a capability previously constrained by fragmented systems, according to the companies' press release.

The growing importance of stablecoins has also drawn the attention of policymakers. Former World Bank President David Malpass recently urged the U.S. to take a leading role in stablecoin innovation, warning that Europe and China are accelerating their own efforts to dominate the space, as noted in comments to crypto.news. Malpass praised Federal Reserve Governor proposal to grant stablecoin firms access to the Fed's payment rails, a move he argued could reduce reliance on traditional banking intermediaries and strengthen dollar-based financial systems. His comments highlight the geopolitical stakes as nations compete to shape the future of digital money.

Technological advancements are further expanding stablecoins' reach. Coinbase has introduced a new payments protocol that enables AI agents to autonomously transact using stablecoins, a development that could revolutionize automated financial workflows. Meanwhile, Andreessen Horowitz's 2025 crypto report identifies stablecoins as a key driver of industry growth, citing their role in facilitating 30% of all crypto transactions and their potential to underpin emerging applications in decentralized finance (DeFi).

Despite their promise, stablecoins face regulatory and security challenges. The Ethereum community, for example, continues to debate the resilience of Layer 2 solutions against 51% attacks, with co-founder Vitalik Buterin emphasizing L2 security and the need for robust safeguards to protect user assets. Such discussions underscore the importance of balancing innovation with risk management as the sector matures.

As stablecoins evolve from niche tools to foundational elements of global finance, their impact on corporate efficiency, regulatory frameworks, and technological ecosystems will likely intensify. For now, the collaboration between NU and Dream Payments, alongside policy advocacy and tech innovation, signals a pivotal moment in their journey to reshape the real economy.