The Truth Behind Stablecoin's Growing Popularity

Stablecoins are getting a lot of attention. Big companies and even former leaders are getting involved. Some experts say stablecoins are a big deal, like the crypto version of ChatGPT. But are they really that popular? A recent report shows that most stablecoin activity isn't for everyday payments. Out of $35 trillion in transactions, only about 1% is used for real payments. This means stablecoins aren't as widely used as people think. Most stablecoin use is for business deals and moving money between countries. Things like crypto exchanges trading or moving funds around don't count as real payments. A lot of this activity is happening in Asia, especially in places like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan.The crypto world has a history of making numbers look better than they are. But there are some real signs of growth. In 2025, stablecoin payments hit $390 billion, which is more than double the previous year. The total supply of stablecoins has also grown a lot, from less than $30 billion in 2020 to over $300 billion today. But not all growth is good. Stablecoins are being used for illegal activities in countries like Venezuela and Iran. This shows why stablecoin policies can be risky. The rise of stablecoins has also caused a divide in the crypto world. Some people focus on the ideology, while others care more about adoption metrics. Stablecoin issuers are even launching their own blockchain infrastructure, adding more centralized control.