Stablecoins Adopted by 18% of Companies: The Shift Towards Blockchain Payments

The 18% of companies have already integrated stablecoins into their operational processes, with a 100% increase compared to the previous year. This data emerges from the 2026 Blockchain Payments Survey conducted by EY-Parthenon on 521 decision-makers from financial and corporate institutions. Tokenized deposits follow closely with a 15% adoption rate.

The survey reveals a clear transition from the experimental phase to operational implementation. 69% of financial institutions already offer stablecoin-based services or plan to launch them within two years, compared to 30% in 2025. Among banks, 49% plan to offer tokenized deposits in the same period.

Quick Answer

Stablecoins are becoming operational tools for companies, with adoption doubling in one year. Cross-border payments represent the main use case, solving problems of slowness, exchange costs, and regulatory complexity. Financial institutions are developing integrated solutions to offer flexibility between different forms of digital money.

Cross-border Payments as an Entry Point

Business-to-business cross-border payments constitute the main use case, with 50-53% of companies using or exploring stablecoins and tokenized deposits for these operations. This approach addresses specific critical issues: 56% of companies report slow processing and settlement times, 52% highlight unfavorable exchange costs, and 48% face regulatory and sanction delays.

Financial institutions see significant opportunities: 63% of respondents identify tokenized settlement as a value-added opportunity, indicating a strong interest in using blockchain-based money as a compensation mechanism.

A Multi-rail Market in Evolution

Adoption is no longer limited to a binary choice between stablecoins and tokenized deposits. 45% of companies and 53% of financial institutions prefer to use both solutions, citing flexibility and coexistence as determining factors. This preference reflects the different functionalities: stablecoins offer interoperability between wallets and platforms, while tokenized deposits allow the integration of bank money into programmable environments.

For financial institutions, the challenge is to create integrated experiences that allow customers to seamlessly switch between traditional payment methods and blockchain solutions.

The Importance of Integration and Programmability

Integration with existing systems is crucial: 76% of companies consider this feature very important or critical. 74% prefer solutions fully integrated into their banking and payment workflows. This creates an advantage for traditional providers: 63% of companies would adopt blockchain solutions if offered by their current credit institutions.

Programmability represents a complementary opportunity: 54% of financial institutions offer or plan to launch programmable payments within two years. Main priorities include liquidity management automation (51%), conditional payments (51%), automated reconciliation (49%), and cross-border automation (47%).

Payment Companies' Stablecoins and Banking Alliances

Payment companies are exploring the issuance of their own stablecoins, such as OUSD, to capture more value from the money in transit on their platforms. This approach could create new revenue streams from the reserves supporting the tokens, as well as improve liquidity management and reduce dependence on external providers.

Banking alliances are developing regulated stablecoins to maintain control over payment flows. In Europe, Qivalis brings together 37 financial institutions to develop a euro stablecoin, while a global consortium of 21 banks, including Bank of America and Goldman Sachs, plans to launch a dollar stablecoin by 2027.

The Challenge of Euro Stablecoins

Euro-denominated stablecoins currently represent only 0.2% of the global stablecoin circulation. This creates challenges for European companies that want to avoid currency exposure and exchange costs associated with using dollar stablecoins. The EU's MiCA regulation could accelerate the development of euro-denominated solutions, creating a more diversified ecosystem.

Future Perspectives

The adoption of blockchain payments could occur within traditional banking and payment products, rather than through separate digital interfaces. Institutions that integrate stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and traditional methods into existing workflows, enriching these solutions with programmable services, will be better positioned to drive the next phase of adoption.

This transformation requires a strategic approach to NIS2 compliance and digital operational resilience, crucial elements to ensure security and operational continuity in an increasingly complex financial ecosystem.

Read our guide on MiCA regulation See also: how to manage crypto assets Discover enterprise cloud security solutions

The Impact on Traditional Financial Infrastructures

The growing adoption of stablecoins and tokenized deposits is pushing traditional financial infrastructures to evolve. Clearing houses and settlement systems are exploring the integration of these new forms of digital money. 72% of the financial institutions surveyed believe that the existing infrastructure must be modernized to support both traditional and blockchain-based methods.

This transformation requires significant investments in enterprise cloud security and Security Information and Event Management to ensure the protection of sensitive data and the prevention of cyberattacks. Companies that do not adapt risk losing competitiveness in cross-border payments.

Regulatory Challenges and Opportunities for Accountants

The EU's MiCA regulation represents a turning point for euro stablecoins. Companies must face complex challenges of crypto AML compliance and crypto anti-money laundering, with the goal of ensuring transaction transparency. 60% of the financial institutions surveyed indicated that regulatory uncertainty is the main obstacle to large-scale adoption.

For crypto accountants and crypto tax consultants, this situation creates new opportunities. Companies need support to navigate the complexities of crypto taxation in Italy and bitcoin declaration, with particular attention to the management of reserves supporting stablecoins.

The Evolution of Reserves and Liquidity Management

The reserves supporting stablecoins are becoming a focal point for financial institutions. 45% of payment companies are exploring reserve models that combine traditional and digital assets, with the goal of optimizing liquidity management. This approach requires advanced solutions for crypto asset management and crypto wealth management.

Central banks are closely observing these developments. 38% of the financial institutions surveyed indicated that central banks could issue regulated stablecoins to compete with private solutions. This scenario would require an adjustment of NIS2 compliance and digital operational resilience policies.

Implications for Cybersecurity

The adoption of stablecoins and tokenized deposits increases companies' exposure to cyber risks. 67% of financial institutions indicated that cyber insurance has become an essential element for risk management. Cyber risk policies must cover not only financial losses but also the costs of breach remediation and incident response.

Companies are investing in Managed Detection and Response and managed Security Operations Center solutions to continuously monitor transactions and prevent cyberattacks. 58% of the companies surveyed indicated that penetration testing and vulnerability assessment have become standard practices to ensure the security of blockchain-based transactions.

Future Perspectives and Large-Scale Adoption

The adoption of stablecoins and tokenized deposits is set to grow further. 73% of the financial institutions surveyed predict that by 2030, 40% of cross-border transactions will be blockchain-based. This scenario requires a strategic approach to DORA compliance and ISO 27001 certification.

Companies that integrate these solutions into their existing workflows, enriching them with programmable services, will be better positioned to drive the next phase of adoption. The transformation requires a strategic approach to ransomware protection and ransomware recovery, crucial elements to ensure security and operational continuity in an increasingly complex financial ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average cost of implementing stablecoins for companies?

The average cost of implementation ranges between 10% and 20% of the annual budget for financial technologies, depending on the complexity of integration with existing systems.

How can companies ensure the security of blockchain-based transactions?

Companies can ensure security through the adoption of Data Loss Prevention and identity access management solutions, as well as investing in disaster recovery as a service and enterprise backup.

What are the main advantages of stablecoins over traditional payment methods?

Stablecoins offer significant advantages in terms of transaction speed, reduced costs, and greater transparency, making them an attractive solution for cross-border payments.

How can financial institutions prepare for the adoption of stablecoins?

Financial institutions can prepare by investing in crypto AML compliance and crypto anti-money laundering, as well as developing crypto asset management and crypto wealth management solutions.

What are the main regulatory challenges for stablecoins?

The main regulatory challenges include the need to comply with MiCA regulation, the management of reserves, and compliance with NIS2 compliance and digital operational resilience regulations.

Editorial Note and Disclaimer

The guides and content published on GoYou are the result of independent research and analysis activities, for informative, educational, and in-depth purposes.

GoYou does not constitute a journalistic publication or an editorial product pursuant to Law No. 62/2001 and does not engage in real-time information activities.

The GoYou project does not provide professional, technical, legal, or financial advice and disclaims any liability for the improper use of the information published.

In the Crypto sector, every investment involves risks: readers are invited to always inform themselves autonomously before making any decision.