Stablecoin payment flows could expand to $56.6 trillion by 2030, according to a new analysis from Bloomberg Intelligence, positioning stablecoins as a core component of global payments infrastructure. Bloomberg estimates stablecoin flows totaled about $2.9 trillion in 2025, implying an annualized growth rate of roughly 80% over the next five years. Such expansion would place stablecoins alongside major card networks and wholesale payment systems in terms of economic relevance.
The projected growth reflects increasing adoption by financial institutions and broader use in countries facing inflation, currency volatility, and capital controls. In these markets, dollar-pegged stablecoins are increasingly used for savings, remittances, and business transactions, often outside traditional banking rails. These use cases have accelerated as geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty persists.
Market Structure and Competitive Dynamics
Bloomberg’s analysis highlights a divergence in stablecoin usage across centralized and decentralized platforms. Tether’s USDT remains dominant in centralized finance, particularly for payments and treasury management, while Circle’s USDC continues to lead activity within decentralized finance. Despite this split, USDC recorded higher total transaction volume in 2025, underscoring its role in onchain trading and settlement.
Together, USDT and USDC accounted for more than 95% of global stablecoin transaction volume last year, which reached approximately $33 trillion. From a valuation perspective, USDT maintains a substantial lead, with a market capitalization more than double that of USDC. This concentration underscores how scale, liquidity, and regulatory positioning shape competition in the stablecoin sector.
Institutional and Regulatory Context
At the institutional level, stablecoins are increasingly viewed as tools for faster cross-border settlement and improved capital efficiency. Several global payments and remittance firms are developing stablecoin-based settlement systems, reflecting growing confidence in regulated digital dollar infrastructure. These initiatives align with broader efforts by banks and payment companies to modernize legacy rails.
Regulatory developments also play a central role in Bloomberg’s outlook. The passage of stablecoin-focused legislation in the United States has prompted renewed policy discussions in other major economies, including the UK and Canada. As frameworks become clearer, Bloomberg expects stablecoins to gain wider acceptance in both public and private sector payment flows, reinforcing their role in global finance.
