Stablecoin Trends for 2026: Shift Toward Everyday Payments and Liquidity Management

Changelly has released a report highlighting significant trends in stablecoin usage, indicating a transition from trading-centric activities to everyday payments, portfolio liquidity management, and consumer spending behavior. According to Cointelegraph, the findings are based on data from the Changelly platform in 2025 and a survey conducted with over 3,000 users in collaboration with Simple. The report reveals that stablecoins are increasingly being utilized as active financial tools rather than merely trading infrastructure. The report notes that stablecoin supply exceeded $300 billion in 2025, with annual on-chain transaction volumes nearing $46 trillion. Changelly's internal data shows that 23.78% of completed transactions involved stablecoins, and stablecoin transaction sizes were approximately five times larger than those of non-stablecoin transactions. Additionally, stablecoin swap participation grew by 33% year-over-year, while flows between crypto assets and stablecoins remained balanced, suggesting users are treating stablecoins as an active liquidity layer rather than solely a defensive asset. Survey data from Changelly and Simple indicates broader stablecoin use in daily spending activities, with 60.6% of respondents reporting spending through crypto-linked cards. Average transaction sizes were around €40, with most spending concentrated in categories such as groceries and transportation. These findings suggest stablecoin usage patterns are increasingly resembling traditional debit card behavior. The report also identifies education and user understanding as significant barriers to adoption, with 58% of non-users citing lack of understanding as the primary obstacle. On May 15, 2026, Changelly will host a live discussion titled “The Rise of Stablecoins: Infrastructure Every Business Must Build,” featuring John Adam Khandjian, CGO at Changelly, and Alex Emelian, CEO and Co-Founder of Stablerail. The session will explore the evolving stablecoin infrastructure for businesses involved in international transactions. Topics will include the role of stablecoins as an onboarding layer into crypto, the shift from passive holding to active spending, and the importance of product design and user understanding in driving adoption. The discussion will include a 20-minute segment followed by a live Q&A.