The Rise of Stablecoins: A $280 Billion Market Reshaping Crypto Finance

Stablecoins have emerged as crypto's unsung success story, facilitating $264.5 trillion across 18 billion transactions since 2019. Their ability to provide volatility-free onchain value storage has made them indispensable infrastructure for the digital economy.

The GENIUS Act's July 2025 passage triggered a gold rush, with MetaMask launching mUSD, Stripe debuting Tempo chain, and Circle building Arc Network. Traditional finance giants are acquiring stablecoin infrastructure firms like Iron at a rapid clip, while chains such as MegaETH and Hyperliquid create native stablecoins to capture yield revenue.

With clear regulatory frameworks now in place, the $280 billion stablecoin market is entering its institutional adoption phase. Payment processors and blockchain networks alike recognize these dollar-pegged assets as the bridge between traditional finance and decentralized ecosystems.