a16z: Stablecoins are evolving from trading tools to core financial infrastructure, with Q1 trading volume reaching $4.5 trillion
a16z released the latest research indicating that stablecoins are gradually evolving from their initial role as transaction settlement tools and stores of value into global financial infrastructure. Data shows that following the regulatory clarity driven by the U.S. GENIUS Act, the stablecoin market has accelerated its growth, with adjusted trading volumes reaching approximately $4.5 trillion.
The report shows that consumer-to-business (C2B) stablecoin transactions grew by 128% year-on-year, reaching 284.6 million transactions. The monthly collateral deposits for stablecoin card projects also increased from nearly zero at the end of 2024 to over $300 million by early 2026, reflecting the rapid expansion of stablecoin payment scenarios. Meanwhile, the velocity of stablecoins has increased from 2.6 times to 6 times since early 2024, indicating a shift from being "held" to being "frequently used." a16z believes that the focus of stablecoin applications is shifting from cross-border payments to local payment infrastructure, particularly evident in markets such as Asia and Brazil.
You may also like
Dan Bin's latest speech: Don't miss out on a great era
Robinhood launches its own blockchain, no longer wanting to be a tenant on others' chains
Why Tokenized Stocks Are Booming in 2026 While Crypto Is Still Struggling
From Pump.fun to Collector Crypt: Has Solana's income throne changed hands?
Looking at Stripe's ambitions and the future of stablecoins from OUSD
Do you want to buy CRCL?
Wosh: Inflation has cooled in recent weeks, AI is reshaping the economy, and forward guidance has lost its necessity
The most secretive AI winner
Former ByteDance employee's account: How I started with two Pinduoduo hard drives and made six times the profit with Seagate to achieve financial freedom?
MiCA reshuffle begins, Binance temporarily bids farewell to the EU
How does Gate redo "buying and selling stocks" from the cryptocurrency world to the stock market?
Visa and Mastercard join 140 giants to launch a new stablecoin, but the impact on the market landscape may still be limited
Circle CEO responds to OUSD's challenge: Stablecoins are a winner-takes-all business, and we will not slow down
Argentina vs Cape Verde: When a Record-Breaking Legend Meets an Unbreakable Underdog
WEEX exclusive pre-match analysis of Argentina vs Cape Verde, exploring Messi-led Argentina’s dominance and Cape Verde’s historic defensive breakout, with a breakdown of volatility, structure, and match dynamics.
