Growing Institutional and SMB Demand Signals Rising Confidence in Crypto Payments

Interest in stablecoins among Fortune 500 companies has more than tripled over the past year, according to Coinbase’s latest State of Crypto report. The findings highlight growing momentum in institutional adoption of digital assets, particularly for use cases involving payments, remittances, and financial efficiency.

Nearly 29% of executives from Fortune 500 companies surveyed said their firms either plan to use or are interested in using stablecoins, up from just 8% in 2024, the crypto exchange said in its report released on Tuesday.

Stablecoin Demand Driven by Cost and Speed Issues

The primary drivers of this interest were slow transaction times and high fees associated with traditional financial systems, especially for cross-border payments. Of those surveyed, 7% said their companies are already using or holding stablecoins.

“This growth is driven by the belief among consumers, Fortune 500 firms, and SMBs that stablecoins can help solve key financial pain points,” the report stated.

Use cases cited include:

• Cross-border remittances with near-instant settlement

• Lower transaction fees

• Increased payroll efficiency

• Inflation hedging

• Improved access for underbanked populations

SMB Interest in Stablecoins Also on the Rise

Smaller companies are also showing accelerated interest in stablecoins. Of 251 financial decision-makers at small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) surveyed:

• 81% expressed interest in using stablecoins, up from 61% in 2024

• 46% said they’re likely to adopt crypto within the next three years

• Over 82% said crypto could help solve at least one financial issue, such as transaction costs or international payment inefficiencies

The findings indicate that interest in crypto solutions is no longer limited to tech firms or large corporations, but is percolating across business segments of all sizes.

Stablecoin Volumes Surging Across the Market

Coinbase also reported significant growth in stablecoin transaction volumes. In 2024, total stablecoin transfer volume hit $27.6 trillion, surpassing the combined transaction volume of Visa and Mastercard by 7.7%.

The two highest single-month volumes were:

• $719 billion in December 2024

• $717 billion in April 2025

Over the same period, stablecoin ownership surged to over 161 million unique holders as of May 2025.

“That is more than the population of the 10 largest cities in the world combined, and more than the combined users of the ‘Big Four’ U.S. mobile banking apps — JPMorgan, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citibank,” Coinbase noted.

Corporate and National-Level Stablecoin Adoption Expanding

Coinbase’s report echoes a broader trend of growing global interest in stablecoins at both the corporate and governmental levels.

• Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the ridesharing giant is in the “study phase” of exploring stablecoins to lower international payment costs, speaking at the Bloomberg Tech Summit on June 5.

• A May 14 report from Fireblocks, a crypto infrastructure firm, found that 90% of institutional players surveyed are actively exploring stablecoin adoption.

• In April, a Russian finance ministry official proposed the development of a state-issued stablecoin to modernize financial infrastructure.

• That same month, three major Abu Dhabi financial institutions announced plans to launch a dirham-pegged stablecoin for regional payments and trade.

Stablecoin Use Cases Gaining Credibility

The report suggests that stablecoins are quickly gaining traction beyond crypto-native communities, largely due to their price stability, real-time settlement, and low-cost structure compared to traditional payment rails.

Coinbase emphasized that stablecoins are uniquely positioned to address gaps in the global financial system, especially in areas like:

• Global payroll and remittances

• Digital commerce in emerging markets

• Supply chain finance

• Interbank settlement and reconciliation

“Stablecoins are no longer just a speculative asset — they’re emerging as a mainstream financial tool,” the report concluded.

Conclusion

Coinbase’s findings suggest that interest in stablecoins has moved from early-stage curiosity to actionable strategy, particularly among Fortune 500 firms and SMBs alike. As transaction volumes hit all-time highs and use cases diversify, stablecoins are increasingly being seen as an integral part of the future financial stack.

With institutional interest accelerating, and both consumer adoption and regulatory clarity improving, stablecoins could be at the forefront of the next wave of financial innovation — bridging the gap between traditional finance and the crypto-native economy.