Nearly Half of Asia Pacific Consumers Eye Stablecoin Adoption by 2031

Visa has revealed that nearly half of consumers in the Asia Pacific region are considering using stablecoins within the next five years. According to its Consumer 360 study, 46% of surveyed individuals aged 18 to 65 across 14 markets expressed interest in adopting stablecoins by 2031. However, only 16% reported using them in the past year, highlighting a significant gap between interest and actual usage.

The research, conducted between June and July 2026, identified strong potential for stablecoins in online purchases, travel, overseas shopping, and cross-border transfers. Notably, 49% of respondents believed stablecoins could become a common method for moving money between countries within five years. Visa's Head of Digital Currencies for Asia Pacific, Nischint Sanghavi, noted that consumers are starting to view stablecoins as extensions of their existing payment behaviors.

Despite high awareness, 66% of respondents knew about stablecoins, only 6% demonstrated an accurate understanding of how they work. Concerns about fraud and scams, along with a lack of understanding, were cited as major barriers to adoption. Many consumers preferred regulated providers, with 27% favoring government or central bank-linked organizations and 26% preferring banks and regulated financial institutions.

Visa is actively expanding its stablecoin infrastructure, having launched the Visa Stablecoin Platform in July 2026. This platform allows banks, fintech companies, and crypto businesses to mint, hold, transfer, and redeem stablecoins. The company also reported significant growth in stablecoin-linked card programs, with payment volumes rising nearly 200% from the previous year. Additionally, Visa has partnered with financial institutions in Asia Pacific to explore stablecoin payments and international remittances.