Stablecoins Surge in Asia Pacific While Western Wealthy Investors Hold Crypto Steady

Stablecoins are gaining ground as a payment option in the Asia Pacific region, while wealthy investors in the U.S. and Europe are already holding significant digital asset portfolios. Two surveys released Monday highlight a shift from niche trading toward broader adoption for payments and long-term investments.

Visa's survey of 14,250 respondents across 14 Asia Pacific markets found that 46% expect to use stablecoins within five years, up from 16% who have used them in the past year. Nearly half anticipate stablecoins will become common for international transfers, with other uses including online purchases, travel, and overseas shopping.

CoinShares' Affluent Investor Crypto Report reveals that 54%-70% of wealthy investors in seven Western markets already hold digital assets, with average portfolio allocations around 10%. Bitcoin is the most popular holding, with 80% of digital-asset investors including it in their portfolios.

Both surveys indicate growing confidence in cryptocurrencies. CoinShares found that 85%-91% of digital-asset investors plan to increase their exposure by 2026, driven by long-term appreciation and diversification rather than short-term speculation. Visa's data also shows that trust in stablecoin issuers is crucial, with government or central bank-linked entities and regulated financial institutions being the most trusted providers.