Visa Sees Strong Stablecoin Adoption Potential in APAC

Visa has unveiled findings from a new study indicating strong potential for stablecoin adoption in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. The research, which polled over 14,000 consumers across 14 key markets, revealed that 46% of respondents are open to using stablecoins within the next five years. Despite this interest, only 16% have actually used these digital assets in the past year.

The survey highlighted that consumers see stablecoins as valuable for everyday transactions such as online purchases, travel spending, and overseas shopping, rather than traditional investment or crypto trading. Nearly half (49%) of those aware of stablecoins believe they will become common for cross-border payments in the near future. Nischint Sanghavi, Head of Digital Currencies at Visa APAC, noted that consumers are beginning to recognize stablecoins' potential in their daily financial activities.

However, significant barriers to adoption persist. Only 6% of consumers fully understand how stablecoins work, while 41% incorrectly believe these assets appreciate in value. Concerns about scams (38%) and a lack of understanding (36%) are the primary reasons why aware consumers have not yet adopted stablecoins. The study also found that central bank-linked entities and regulated financial institutions are viewed as the most trusted providers of stablecoin services.

Visa aims to capitalize on this trend by integrating stablecoin technology into its existing payment ecosystem. The company has already seen success, with stablecoin settlements surpassing a $20 billion annualized run rate, marking a 15x year-over-year growth. Sanghavi emphasized Visa's role in making stablecoin payments feel like a natural extension of the trusted payment experiences consumers already rely on.