Asia Pacific Consumers Show Growing Interest in Stablecoins for Daily Use
A new Visa study reveals growing consumer interest in stablecoins across the Asia Pacific region, with nearly half of consumers open to using them within the next five years. The research highlights practical applications such as everyday spending, travel, and cross-border money transfers, signaling a shift from viewing stablecoins as mere crypto-trading instruments to potential tools for daily use. However, misconceptions remain widespread, with close to half of the respondents believing stablecoins can only be used to buy or sell other cryptocurrencies.
Key findings show that 46% of consumers in Asia Pacific are likely to use stablecoins in the next five years, up from just 16% who have used them in the past 12 months. Interest extends to online purchases, travel spending, and overseas shopping, pointing to potential use beyond investment. Cross-border money movement is another area of potential, with 49% believing stablecoins could become a common way to move money across borders within five years. Market-level data shows the highest awareness in Hong Kong (84%), India (80%), and Thailand (77%), while Vietnam (67%) and India (67%) have the strongest intent to use stablecoins.
Despite mainstream awareness, with 66% of consumers aware of stablecoins, only 6% demonstrate an accurate understanding of how they work. Misconceptions and trust issues persist, with 38% of aware but non-using consumers citing concerns about fraud or scams, and 36% pointing to a lack of understanding. The strongest preference is for regulated institutions, with government or central bank-linked entities (27%) and banks or regulated financial institutions (26%) ranking as the most trusted providers.
Visa is working with banks, regulated financial institutions, and payment partners to integrate stablecoin capabilities with familiar payment experiences. The company's Visa Stablecoin Platform aims to help clients mint, move, and manage stablecoins securely and compliantly. “Consumers want stablecoins to feel like a natural part of the payments they already trust, not a separate system,” said Nischint Sanghavi, Head of Digital Currencies, Asia Pacific at Visa.