Stablecoins moved $35 trillion last year but only 1% of it was for 'real world' payments

In the past year, stablecoins facilitated a staggering volume of transactions totaling $35 trillion, showcasing their significant role in the digital finance landscape. However, it is noteworthy that despite this impressive figure, a mere 1% of those transactions were utilized for actual 'real world' payments, indicating that the vast majority of stablecoin activity was likely driven by trading, investment, and speculative purposes rather than serving as a medium of exchange for everyday goods and services in the physical economy. source: https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/01/23/stablecoins-moved-usd35-trillion-last-year-but-only-1-of-it-was-for-real-world-payments