Uber CEO Signals Strong Interest in Stablecoins as Payment Option
Speaking at the Bloomberg Tech Summit in San Francisco on 5 June 2025, Uber’s CEO Dara Khosrowshahi revealed that the ride-hailing giant is exploring stablecoins as a potential way to simplify and reduce the expense of moving money across borders.
Khosrowshahi noted that Uber remains in the early stages of exploring the idea, saying,
“We’re still in the study phase, but I think stablecoins are one of the more interesting instantiations of crypto that has a practical benefit other than crypto as a store of value.”
He explained,
“Stablecoins are quite promising, especially for global companies that are moving money around globally, to create a mechanism for us to reduce costs.”
Why Uber Prefers Stablecoins Over Bitcoin
The CEO made clear that Uber’s interest centres almost exclusively on stablecoins rather than Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.
He acknowledged Bitcoin as “a proven commodity,” but noted the varied opinions around its future.
For a global company like Uber, the stable value of stablecoins, often pegged to traditional currencies like the US dollar, makes them a more practical option.
Khosrowshahi contrasted stablecoins’ utility with Bitcoin’s volatility, suggesting that pivoting to Bitcoin could “transform a firm’s entire business model.”
Instead, stablecoins provide a more straightforward use case aligned with Uber’s operations, given its global customer base and need for efficient cross-border payments.
Is This The First Time Uber Has Shown Interest In Crypto Payments?
This is not the first occasion Khosrowshahi has signalled that Uber may accept cryptocurrency payments.
In 2022, he stated that Uber would “absolutely” move towards crypto payments in the near future, but the company has yet to roll out such services.
Back then, concerns about the costs of exchange mechanisms and environmental impacts were also mentioned as challenges.
Despite previous announcements, Uber has not launched any official roadmap or timeline for adopting stablecoins or crypto payments.
Yet, the recent interview sparked a brief rise in Uber’s stock price, though these gains faded after hours.
Growing Interest In Stablecoins Across Industries
Uber is far from alone in considering stablecoins for business use.
Payment provider Stripe’s co-founder John Collison disclosed in May that the company has held early discussions with banks about integrating stablecoins.
Meanwhile, a report by digital asset platform Fireblocks found that 90% of surveyed institutional investors are exploring stablecoin applications.
Even governments are showing curiosity.
Russia’s finance ministry proposed developing a national stablecoin in April, while Abu Dhabi’s major institutions joined forces to create a dirham-pegged stablecoin the same month.
What Makes Stablecoins Attractive For Global Companies
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a steady value by being backed by reserves such as cash or short-term government bonds.
This stability offers global firms a way to handle international payments more efficiently, bypassing some of the traditional banking hurdles and fees.
For a company like Uber, which operates in many countries, reducing the friction and expense of transferring money internationally could have significant financial benefits.
Khosrowshahi described stablecoins as “quite promising” for this reason, emphasising their practical value beyond just being a store of value.
Will Uber Follow Through This Time?
While Uber’s CEO has been cautious, acknowledging the company is still investigating, the firm’s continued public interest suggests that stablecoins could become a part of its payment ecosystem.
By concentrating on reducing international money transfer costs, Uber could leverage stablecoins to improve efficiency and lower expenses for its widespread operations.
While no formal announcement or pilot projects have been disclosed, Khosrowshahi’s clear interest means stablecoins could feature in Uber’s payments ecosystem in the future.
For now, the company remains cautious but open to crypto’s evolving role in global finance.