**Stablecoins Are Quietly Taking Over Global Payments – Here’s What You Need to Know**

It’s Black Friday – the biggest shopping day of the year. Millions of people are swiping their Visa and Mastercard cards to grab deals. But there’s something big happening behind the scenes that most people don’t realize: stablecoins are now processing more money than both Visa and Mastercard.

Yes, you read that right. A form of digital money that barely existed ten years ago is now moving trillions of dollars—more than the credit card networks we’ve relied on for decades.

If you’re a CFO, investor, or just curious about how money is changing, here are five key things you need to know about this shift.

### Stablecoins Are Becoming the Backbone of Digital Payments

Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency that are tied to real-world currencies like the US dollar or Euro. Unlike Bitcoin, their value doesn’t swing wildly. One USDC or USDT is always worth about one dollar.

In 2025 alone, stablecoins are expected to settle over $18 trillion in payments. That’s more than Visa and Mastercard combined in the first half of the year.

Why are they so powerful? Because they move money faster and cheaper than traditional banks. During busy shopping periods like Black Friday, stablecoin usage spikes—especially in regions like Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, where banking systems are slow or unreliable.

### Why People in Emerging Markets Love Stablecoins

In many countries, local currencies can lose value quickly. Bank transfers are slow. Sending $200 home can cost $13 in fees and take days to arrive.

Stablecoins change that. They offer fast, cheap transfers that settle in seconds and cost a fraction of a cent. For millions of people, stablecoins aren’t just a payment method—they’re savings accounts, shopping tools, and a safe place to store value.

This growing demand has made stablecoin companies extremely profitable. Tether, one of the biggest stablecoins, might even surpass Saudi Aramco’s record profits from 2024. And Circle, the company behind USDC, has seen its stock soar by over 300% since going public.

### The Internet Is Reshaping Money Like It Did Media and Retail

Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle, believes we’re just at the beginning. He says the internet is doing to global finance what it did to newspapers and malls: breaking down old systems and making things faster and more efficient.

Companies that adapt now will gain an edge. Those that don’t could get left behind.

But not everyone is convinced. Some economists and central banks warn that if people lose confidence in stablecoins, it could cause financial disruptions. However, others argue stablecoins are safer than risky bank loans—especially since many are now backed by U.S. Treasury bills and regulated under new laws like the Genius Act.

### Tokenized Treasuries Are Fueling the Stablecoin Boom

A big reason for stablecoin growth is tokenization—the process of turning real-world assets like bonds or real estate into digital tokens on a blockchain. These tokens can be traded 24/7, settled instantly, and owned in small pieces.

Tokenized U.S. Treasuries have already passed $25 billion in market size. Big players like BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, and Ondo Finance are leading the way.

This gives businesses a huge advantage. They can earn yield on their reserves while still moving money instantly—unlike traditional banks that are only open during business hours.

BlackRock’s CEO Larry Fink says we’re entering a future where all assets—from stocks to real estate—will be tokenized. Markets won’t close on weekends. Money will move in seconds instead of days.

### Plasma: A New Layer Built Just for Stablecoins

One of the newest innovations is Plasma—a blockchain network built specifically for stablecoin payments. In just one week after launch, it attracted $5.6 billion in locked value.

Why so fast? Because existing blockchains like Ethereum and Solana weren’t made for high-speed payments. They charge unpredictable fees and slow down when traffic spikes.

Plasma fixes this with zero-fee transfers for USDT and a design focused only on moving digital dollars quickly and efficiently—similar to how Stripe revolutionized online payments back in 2010.

Plasma’s CEO believes stablecoins are the biggest financial opportunity since money was invented. His team is building tools to make stablecoin payments as easy as using your phone—and usable everywhere with products like Plasma One, a neobank designed to bring stablecoin payments into everyday life.

### The Big Picture: The Future of Money Is Already Here

Here’s what many people in the West don’t realize: in emerging markets, people are already using stablecoins every day—for shopping, saving, sending money home. Black Friday in those places isn’t just about deals—it’s about getting cashback in digital dollars.

These regions skipped legacy infrastructure because it didn’t serve them well. They went straight to mobile internet—and now they’re going straight to blockchain payments.

The same shift is starting to happen globally. Stablecoin laws are advancing. More companies are using tokenized treasuries. Major retailers are looking at stablecoin checkout options.

And we haven’t even touched on what happens when AI starts managing wallets automatically—a trend that’s on the horizon.

All of this is happening without asking for permission from banks or governments. It’s happening because it works—faster payments, lower costs, more access.

So while you’re enjoying your Black Friday shopping spree, remember: the future of money isn’t coming—it’s already here. And it’s being settled in stablecoins.