From Blockchain to Everyday Life: An Overview of Global Stablecoin Consumption Landscape in 2025

By 2025, spending stablecoins on everyday consumption will no longer be a romanticized notion of "global financial equality and financial inclusion," but a tangible reality. While the broader crypto market continues to fluctuate between bull market cycles and regulatory readjustments, with most activity still focused on key infrastructure such as capital flows, remittances, and decentralized finance (DeFi), stablecoins have carved out a lasting niche market: they are being used for payments and consumption, not just for storage or trading. However, closer examination reveals that less than 10% of these activities are linked to actual spending—that is, for purchasing goods and services. However, this seemingly insignificant 10% is expanding at a visible pace, quietly rewriting the rules in the cracks of daily life: from street stalls to cross-border remittances, stablecoins are no longer just toys for "crypto geeks," but real payment options in consumers' pockets. Businesses are following suit, and capital and products are beginning to strategize around this small spark. The scenarios of consumers using stablecoins for daily expenses are like a bottom-up fire. Whether this fire can ignite a prairie fire depends on who seizes the spark first and ignites a series of subsequent demands. To this end, we have compiled "Where are stablecoins being spent?" and incorporated firsthand observations, attempting to pinpoint that initial glimmer of light and trace its trajectory.

I. Overview of the Consumer Market

In the B2B enterprise payment sector, stablecoins have gained significant traction. Companies in logistics, software, and financial services are using stablecoins for cross-border supplier payments, contractor payroll, and treasury operations.

In the B2B enterprise payment sector, stablecoins have gained significant traction. Companies in the logistics, software, and financial services sectors are using stablecoins for cross-border supplier payments, contractor payroll, and treasury operations.

II. The Consumer Economy of Stablecoins

The above data describes a clear story: Despite increasingly mature infrastructure and expanding real-world use, the vast majority of stablecoin activity remains at the financial application level—trading, liquidity provision, and remittance channels. Only a small, but increasingly meaningful portion, of activity truly touches the consumer economy, and businesses are shifting their attention accordingly.

The above data describes a clear story: Despite increasingly mature infrastructure and expanding real-world use, the vast majority of stablecoin activity remains at the financial application level—trading, liquidity provision, and remittance channels. Only a small portion, but increasingly meaningful, of activity truly touches the consumer economy, and businesses are shifting their attention accordingly.

Consumer-facing spending on travel, hospitality, and digital entertainment remains limited, but the industry as a whole is actively experimenting with stablecoin payments at a strategic level.However, these use cases are still considered fringe scenarios, driven more by crypto-native users than by mass market demand. A recent travel industry analysis, "The Rise of Cryptocurrency in Travel," points out that although cryptocurrency currently accounts for less than 1% of leisure travel spending, this proportion is expected to climb to 3%–5% by 2030. Stablecoins are seen as the driving force behind this shift due to their predictable prices and efficient settlement. Cryptofills states that by 2024, over 80% of its users will make at least one cryptocurrency purchase per month. Travel is one of the company's fastest-growing sectors, primarily driven by digital nomads and conference travelers who also use the platform to purchase eSIM cards, book travel services, and top up their accounts. Cryptorefills is a B2C platform offering cryptocurrency-based flight and hotel bookings. Travala, an online travel agency (OTA) focused on cryptocurrency, reports that "our largest customer base currently consists of digital nomads and conference travelers, with bookings typically targeting mid-range clients; approximately 78% of bookings in 2024 were completed using cryptocurrency. This compares to less than 8% usage by credit and debit cards." Cryptocurrency also attracts high-net-worth individuals. "The luxury market has enormous potential." Travala's concierge service targets this niche market, offering personalized high-end travel advisors. More significantly, in the UAE—a hub of luxury experiences and regulatory innovation—43% of five-star hotels now accept crypto payments. The purely digital travel platform Travala shows an even more aggressive usage curve: in September 2024, 77% of orders were paid for with cryptocurrency, the vast majority of which were stablecoins. These data mark a turning point: boutique resorts and forward-thinking chain brands are offering stablecoin options not as a gimmick, but out of consideration for competitive differentiation and global appeal. In the broader travel ecosystem, stablecoins are becoming a tool for "end-to-end payment": From June 2024 to June 2025, crypto payments in the travel industry surged by 38% year-on-year, with over 40% completed using stablecoins. Stablecoins are used for booking rooms, flights, spas, and transfers, with average transaction amounts reaching 2.5 times the average transaction value of traditional legal tender, demonstrating high average transaction value. The figures above indicate that consumers increasingly view stablecoins as a trusted medium of exchange, not only for simple bookings but also for meticulously planned full-fledged travel experiences and services. 3.4 About the Gaming Industry In contrast, the gaming industry is proving to be increasingly fertile ground for stablecoin spending. Many Web3 native games and virtual environments now accept stablecoins for in-game purchases, NFT transactions, and peer-to-peer settlements between players. For example, Fortnite, developed by Epic Games, is a centralized, non-Web3 game, but certain third-party payment solutions have enabled stablecoin-based transactions, allowing players to purchase in-game currencies (such as V-Bucks) using stablecoins like USDC. Payment platforms like TransFi have been integrated into the game's ecosystem, providing players with these stablecoin payment channels. Globally, over 35% of players have used cryptocurrency for at least one purchase, whether for items, tournament entry fees, or subscriptions; of these, a staggering 70% are made using stablecoins. The blockchain gaming market is experiencing explosive growth: driven by a 52% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), the global blockchain gaming market is projected to reach $85 billion by the end of 2025. "Play-to-Earn" (P2E) games, which use stablecoins to distribute rewards, contribute 62% of the market's revenue. At the platform level, 93% of blockchain games have integrated wallet support (such as MetaMask and Phantom), and 37% have introduced metaverse elements, creating more consumption scenarios for character skins, upgrade items, and social interactions. Similarly, market valuations reflect scale: tokenized real estate on metaverse platforms has now exceeded $112 billion. Beyond the games themselves, stablecoins are at the core of the high-value economy of virtual goods. The metaverse market reached a total value of $316 billion in 2025, with $880 billion of digital goods transactions completed via stablecoins. Trading in virtual real estate, virtual avatars, and tokenized assets is rapidly expanding: leading metaverse platform Decentraland earned over $275 million in revenue from virtual land and digital asset transactions alone in 2025, with stablecoins being the primary settlement currency. Behind this value is a surge in the user base: 70 million users utilize metaverse financial services monthly, with $2.2 billion in transactions flowing daily through these virtual settlement systems. With their stable value and rapid settlement, stablecoins have become a natural choice for high-frequency trading in the immersive economy. By 2025, the gaming and entertainment ecosystem had adopted stablecoins as the primary medium of exchange, significantly accelerating the development of in-game economies, virtual experiences, and hybrid scenarios that integrate with the real world. 3.5 Enterprise B2B Payments A. Cost Reduction and Efficiency Improvement For enterprises, efficiency, rather than cost, remains the primary consideration. Fireblocks research shows that 48% of businesses cite settlement efficiency as the biggest benefit of stablecoins, 30% mention cost savings, and 86% claim their existing infrastructure is ready for deployment. Improved operational efficiency is equally noteworthy: a 2025 analysis shows that stablecoin settlement systems have reduced remittance and settlement fees to approximately 2.5%, while traditional bank channels can reach up to 5%. Cryptocurrencies enable direct transactions without banks, thereby reducing costs and increasing profit margins. Travala estimates that the tourism industry processes over $11 trillion in transactions annually; if blockchain-based solutions were adopted to reduce fees to 0.1%, $270 billion could be saved annually. “These advantages are significant: using stablecoins on high-speed networks with fees below one cent, near-instant confirmation with no chargebacks, and settlements available 24/7.” B2B transactions also benefit, enabling real-time settlement, eliminating currency exchange risks, and reducing the need for upfront payments. However, not all crypto solutions are created equal. Future adoption trajectory: Accelerated merchant penetration—over 57% of crypto merchants now settle payments in stablecoins; Expanded user activity—millions of active wallets and transactions daily. Operational benefits: Settlement speed takes precedence over cost savings; Infrastructure readiness and regulatory synergy are rapidly reducing friction; Decreasing costs and transparency make stablecoins an efficient alternative for cross-border and digital commerce. B. Payment Application Scenarios a. Stablecoins used for supplier, manufacturer, and payroll payments According to PYMNTS data, the annual scale of B2B stablecoin transactions has reached $36 billion, constituting the largest segment in the practical application of stablecoins, surpassing P2P and card-linked payments. Artemis Analytics also supports this ranking, estimating that B2B stablecoin payments account for 50% of total payments. Demand is driven by global manufacturers, logistics providers, and service companies, who are increasingly using stablecoins to settle cross-border supplier invoices, pay overseas contractors, and streamline payroll. b. Partnerships and Custodial Solutions: Enterprise-Grade Infrastructure Mastercard is integrating the FIUSD stablecoin into its payments ecosystem, making it available to merchants and businesses across its network of over 150 million merchants. Meanwhile, Fiserv plans to launch a stablecoin-powered digital asset banking platform, widely supported by Circle, Paxos, and Solana, bringing regional and community banks into the stablecoin payment system. Major banks such as Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Standard Chartered, PayPal, and Stripe are actively developing stablecoin issuance and integration strategies, targeting B2B and trade corridors. Enterprise and fintech wallets, SAFE tools, and fund management systems are now natively designed or upgraded to handle stablecoin flows, enabling businesses to allocate funds with programmable precision, built-in compliance, and integration with legacy systems. The core value proposition focuses on instant settlement, mitigation of exchange rate volatility, and near-frictionless channels, particularly benefiting markets where traditional banking services are underserved. c. Liquidity and Cash Management: Intra-corporate Fund Transfers Large enterprises and treasury departments are using stablecoins as programmable liquidity tools. JPMorgan's digital dollar and euro token now process over $1 billion in institutional flows daily, demonstrating their deep integration into automated fund operations. This expanding scale uses stablecoins as real-time funding channels, enabling instant intra-corporation transfers, automated cash collection across jurisdictions, and seamless movement between fiat currency and on-chain digital assets through custody platforms. "New banks have defined what digital banking should look like, but they've never touched the core infrastructure. Stablecoins are that upgrade. The combination of the two unlocks everything a digital bank should have: instant transfers, low remittance costs, and access to global stablecoins." —RIZON Rizon's analysis highlights its potential: by 2025, with increased regulatory clarity and growing user demand for borderless currencies, new banks are uniquely positioned to integrate stablecoins into the everyday banking experience—from payroll to payments and savings. By 2025, the number of new bank users globally will surpass 600 million, compared to only 394 million in 2023, representing a compound annual growth rate of over 30% in recent years. Giants are taking action. Revolut and N26 are expanding their crypto services to include stablecoin transfers and payments; Monzo and Wise are exploring instant, zero-foreign-currency cross-border remittances through regulated stablecoin channels. In emerging markets, new banks such as Nubank (Brazil) and Maya (Philippines) have piloted stablecoin-linked wallets for merchant payments and payroll. By embedding stablecoins into their core products, these new banks are becoming gateways for millions of users to "spend digital dollars, not just transact digital dollars." 4.1 Rizon's Stablecoin Emerging Bank Case Study Rizon, launched in 2025, is a next-generation non-custodial stablecoin application designed to make "digital dollars" truly usable. Operating in over 110 countries, it allows users to deposit, transfer, spend, invest, and receive stablecoins such as USDC and USDT at low cost and near real-time. Through virtual and physical Visa cards, users can use stablecoins at over 100 million merchants and ATMs worldwide, covering all traditional card-swiping scenarios. The non-custodial architecture ensures users have complete control over their funds and private keys. Rizon now supports tokenized stock trading, 5% cashback on purchases, and the RizPoints loyalty program, which can be redeemed for airline tickets, hotel stays, and gift cards. Rizon's mission is simple: to make stablecoins a viable alternative to the outdated banking system. Rizon is not just a crypto wallet, but a modern financial gateway, enabling users worldwide to access secure, stable, and intelligent cross-border financial tools anytime, anywhere. As the first new bank to fully integrate stablecoin accounts, cards, and APIs into the financial stack, Rizon allows users and businesses to hold, spend, and settle stablecoins as easily as fiat currency. Through direct integration with Visa, Rizon enables stablecoin spending at over 150 million merchants worldwide, eliminating exchange friction and unlocking real-world utility. With its non-custodial model, anyone with a smartphone and internet connection can use it globally. Rizon's analysis highlights its potential: global remittances are projected to reach $913 billion by 2025, and stablecoins could save $39 billion in remittance fees annually, becoming a key driver of everyday cross-border payments. "The nature of money is changing. While the internet has transformed how we work, communicate, and shop, our financial system remains stagnant: slow, expensive, and inaccessible to billions. Stablecoins have brought a breakthrough: they are digital dollars backed 1:1 by real reserves, enabling instant, borderless, 24/7 transactions without banks or intermediaries. This is not just another crypto frenzy, but a fundamental shift in how money flows. However, stablecoins remain too complex for the average user." Rizon, we are building the next layer of currency: a simple, secure, and intuitive interface that makes stablecoins easily accessible to everyone. Just as new banks did for fiat currency, we are doing the same for the digital dollar—creating financial instruments that are inherently global, inherently fair, and built for those who need them most. —IgnasSurvila, CEO & Co-founder @ RIZON Its platform helps merchants accept Bitcoin, stablecoins, and other digital assets, and provides fiat currency exchange services to mitigate volatility risks. Businesses can integrate CoinGate via API and mainstream e-commerce plugins to seamlessly access crypto payments globally. The company also supports crypto fund distribution, invoicing, and treasury management functions, along with KYC/AML compliance mechanisms. CoinGate serves thousands of merchants and processes hundreds of thousands of crypto transactions annually, aiming to bridge the gap between traditional commerce and blockchain payments. Since 2025, stablecoins have remained the mainstay of crypto payments on the CoinGate platform, but their share has shifted due to regulatory influence. As of this quarter, 31.3% of processed payments were settled in stablecoins. USDT remains the second most frequently used cryptocurrency, accounting for 19.8% of all transactions. However, this data primarily reflects activity in the first quarter (before the MiCA regulations took effect); subsequently, platforms delisted USDT as required by the regulations. Meanwhile, USDC's trading share has risen to 11.5%, ranking fourth. In terms of transaction volume, stablecoins have a more pronounced advantage, accounting for almost half of the total trading volume. The larger narrative lies in how MiCA is reshaping the market landscape. Due to its failure to meet MiCA's compliance requirements for stablecoins, USDT has been effectively delisted by numerous regulated platforms within the EU and EEA. Tether has explicitly stated that it will not cooperate in applying for compliance qualifications, significantly weakening its usability in regulated markets. Therefore, the decline in USDT usage on platforms is not due to reduced demand, but rather regulatory restrictions directly reducing its circulation. Conversely, USDC, having passed MiCA compliance certification and supporting multiple public chains, has experienced explosive growth: compared to the same period last year, USDC payment volume on CoinGate surged by 760%; usage increased more than sixfold from January to September 2025 alone. A clear "substitution effect" is observed—European merchants and consumers who previously used USDT are collectively migrating to USDC. Regionally, the United States remains the largest single market for stablecoin payments with a 15% share, but if Europe is considered as a whole, its order volume accounts for a staggering 37%, ranking first globally. Asia follows closely behind at 30%, primarily driven by India and Hong Kong; in Africa, Nigeria is the most prominent market. In terms of use cases, stablecoins are most concentrated in digital-native industries, such as adult content, agency services, and web hosting; meanwhile, gaming, gift cards, and consumer e-commerce are also showing steady growth. On the withdrawal side, the changes are even more significant: in 2025, 85% of merchant settlements on the CoinGate platform were paid in stablecoins. This indicates that for businesses, stablecoins are no longer just another payment option, but the preferred settlement layer for cross-border settlements, remittances, and B2B fund flows. In summary, the data clearly shows that regulation has become one of the main forces influencing the adoption of stablecoins. The MiCA regulations in Europe created a "natural experiment": in a regulated environment, USDT's market share is collapsing, while USDC is rapidly becoming the preferred stablecoin for both consumers and merchants. V. Conclusion By 2025, stablecoins will no longer be theoretical tools; they are being used for spending, settlement, and large-scale applications in the real economy. From institutional liquidity pipelines to retail cash registers, stablecoins are quietly but decisively changing the way value flows. Although only about 5% of annual transaction volume (approximately $1.3 trillion) is linked to payments for actual goods and services. However, this small segment represents the fastest-growing category of on-chain value transfer. Stablecoin spending is moving from the periphery to mainstream functionality in areas such as B2B, e-commerce, hospitality, gaming, and P2P.