Stablecoins are becoming one of the most important forces shaping the future of global payments. In 2025, stablecoins processed about $33 trillion in transaction volume. This amount is more than double the annual payment volume that was handled by Visa, which clearly shows how blockchain payments are becoming the foundation of payments.
According to Reece Merrick, the senior executive officer at Ripple, the rapid growth in stablecoin activity reflects a major shift in how individuals and institutions now move money around the world. Merrick said in the last few years, the company has spent so much time preparing for this moment as more institutions adopt the blockchain payment infrastructure.
One of the ways the company has prepared and responded to the increase in the amount of stablecoin needs is by introducing the dollar-backed stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD).
The stablecoin is designed to meet the needs of financial institutions that want fast and reliable ways to move money across different borders using the fast and easy blockchain technology.
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The executive officer also added that the usage in number of users grew rapidly with the transaction volumes increasing by about 72% year-over-year, while the number of active users grew by roughly 146% across 106 countries.
Many regions around the world are also seeing strong adoption of stablecoins due to their different economic conditions and need for more efficient and quick-to-use payment systems.
Regional Growth in Stablecoins Adoption
In Turkey, stablecoins have become very popular as people look for ways to protect their money from currency volatility. The country has developed one of the largest digital asset markets in the Middle East and North Africa region, with many individuals making use of the USDT and other dollar-pegged stablecoins for currency value stability.
Across Africa, stablecoins are also gaining traction as a faster and cheaper way to send money internationally. In Nigeria, for instance, the annual remittance of stablecoin volume has reached about $59 billion, and stablecoins are increasingly replacing traditional money transfer services that often charge higher fees and take longer to process payments.
The United Arab Emirates has also taken a more institutional approach to stablecoins. The country recently approved a dirham-backed digital currency called Digital Dirham Stablecoin (DDSC), which is designed to be used for institutional settlements and is expected to compete in a global market worth around $170 billion.
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