Stablecoin adoption through card usage is predicted to be a dominant theme in the cryptocurrency space in 2026. Haseeb Qureshi, a managing partner at Dragonfly Capital, a crypto-focused venture capital firm, highlighted this trend, noting that stablecoin-powered cards are poised to integrate crypto more deeply into global payment systems.
Qureshi's prediction follows stablecoin startup Rain's successful $250 million funding round, which nearly doubled the company's valuation to $2 billion. Rain experienced a 30-fold increase in its active card base and a nearly 40-fold increase in annualized payment volume throughout 2025, making it one of the fastest-growing fintech companies. Rain supports major stablecoins like Tether (USDT) and USDC across various blockchain networks, including Ethereum, Solana, Tron, and Stellar.
Stablecoin cards provide consumers with the benefits of blockchain technology, such as faster settlements, lower costs, and increased global reach, while maintaining a familiar payment experience. Qureshi noted that users are often unaware of the underlying crypto technology, only recognizing the ease with which they can make payments in dollars, anytime and anywhere.
Bloomberg Intelligence has projected an 81% Compound Annual Growth Rate for stablecoin payment flows, estimating a total of $56.6 trillion by 2030. This growth is expected to be fueled by traditional financial channels like banks, fintech companies, and cross-border payment providers integrating blockchain. Dragonfly anticipates a 60% expansion in stablecoin supply during 2026, with the vast majority (99%+) remaining denominated in dollars. While Tether (USDT) is expected to remain dominant, its market share could decrease slightly to around 55%.
The rise of stablecoin cards and on-ramps could experience explosive adoption, with potential growth of 1,000% in certain segments, positioning platforms like Rain as major beneficiaries in emerging markets. This real-world focus aligns with the Asia-Pacific region's strengths in transaction volume and user growth, potentially leading the region in stablecoin adoption throughout 2026.
Several payment technology firms, including Stripe, PayPal, and Circle, are actively developing payment use cases for stablecoins. Fiserv has also developed a digital asset platform with its own stablecoin, FIUSD, and plans to make it interoperable with PayPal's PYUSD, potentially opening stablecoins to a vast network of financial institutions and consumers.
While stablecoins are still primarily used for investment purposes, regulatory changes are encouraging fintech companies to explore their use for payments. Monica Eaton, CEO of Chargebacks911, suggests that stablecoins will play a greater role in settlement, potentially replacing legacy clearing infrastructure. Europe's implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) has positioned stablecoins as regulated payment instruments, similar to credit cards, further legitimizing their use. The U.S. and Canada are also advancing federal stablecoin frameworks, which will drive broader adoption in 2026.
Despite the optimistic outlook, some remain skeptical about the widespread use of stablecoin payments in developed markets. Sheel Mohnot, GP of Better Tomorrow Ventures, argues that stablecoin merchant acceptance lacks a captive audience, exclusivity, and compelling incentives to drive significant change. Moreover, with the increased speed of transactions disputes may occur earlier and fraud may target wallet vulnerabilities.
