Walmart Amazon Explore USD Backed Stablecoins for Faster Payments

Walmart and Amazon, two of the largest retailers in the United States, are reportedly exploring the launch of their own U.S. dollar-backed stablecoins. This move is aimed at reducing payment friction, speeding up settlement times, and lowering costs associated with traditional payment methods. By issuing their own stablecoins, these companies could potentially streamline their payment systems, cut processing fees, and reduce reliance on traditional banking infrastructure. This shift could see massive volumes of daily transactions moved onto the blockchain, offering more efficient payment flows.

This news arrives amid growing momentum in the digital asset sector and increased attention on tokenized payment solutions. The exploration of stablecoins by these retail giants comes at a time when other major players, including Expedia Group Inc. and several airlines in the United States, are also considering similar initiatives. The integration of stablecoins into their financial ecosystems could provide a more practical and stable path for incorporating crypto-like assets, as opposed to holding volatile cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin in their treasuries.

Leading stablecoins such as USDT and USDC have already demonstrated strong utility in global payments, serving as efficient and low-cost alternatives to traditional payment methods. The surge in adoption of these stablecoins highlights their potential to transform payment systems. For instance, Tether’s USDT recently surpassed significant circulation milestones, indicating growing acceptance and use.

Uber, the ride-hailing company, has also signaled interest in using stablecoins to streamline global payments. Earlier this month, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi revealed that the company is in the “study phase” of evaluating stablecoins as a potential tool for international transactions. This interest from major corporations underscores the growing recognition of stablecoins as a viable solution for cross-border payments.

E-commerce infrastructure provider Shopify is also reportedly set to allow merchants to accept payments in USDC starting later this month. This move is part of Shopify's efforts to integrate stablecoins in collaboration with Coinbase and Stripe, further expanding the use of stablecoins in the e-commerce sector.

The total supply of stablecoins currently exceeds $239 billion, held across 150 million wallet addresses. This widespread adoption and the growing interest from major corporations suggest that stablecoins are poised to play a significant role in the future of digital payments. As Walmart and Amazon continue to explore the issuance of their own stablecoins, the payments landscape could see a transformative shift towards more efficient and cost-effective transaction methods.

Crypto investor Anthony Pompliano emphasized that companies are beginning to understand the benefits of vertical integration, which could reduce transaction costs and unlock greater operational efficiency. “Follow the incentive and you can see where the world is going,” he stated, suggesting that corporate adoption of stablecoins may soon become standard practice.