A recent survey conducted by EY-Parthenon has revealed that a large number of financial institutions and corporations are planning to implement stablecoins within the next six to twelve months. This marks a significant shift in the industry, with 54% of non-stablecoin users expected to adopt this technology by 2026.
The primary drivers for this surge in adoption are reduced transaction costs and faster cross-border payments. Current users of stablecoins have reported cost savings exceeding 10% compared to traditional payment methods, with cross-border supplier payments being the most common use case.
Among the stablecoins in use, USDC holds the highest usage rate at 77%, followed by USDT at 59%. Euro-denominated EURC has also seen increased adoption, with 45% of organizations utilizing it.
The recent passage of the GENIUS Act has provided regulatory clarity in the stablecoin sector, which has further accelerated institutional interest. Prior to this legislation, regulatory uncertainty was cited as the top barrier to adoption by 73% of organizations. With stablecoins expected to account for 5% to 10% of global payment value by 2030, representing trillions of dollars, the potential impact of this technology is significant.
Corporations have shown a preference for traditional banking partnerships for stablecoin capabilities, while financial institutions are planning hybrid approaches with a combination of internal and vendor solutions. Integration is key for adoption, with 56% of corporations preferring embedded APIs within existing treasury platforms.
Despite the positive outlook for stablecoin adoption, trust remains a significant challenge due to the reliance on major traditional players behind these projects. However, 87% of corporate respondents believe that stablecoin adoption can deliver competitive advantages, with 81% planning to conduct formal return-on-investment analyses to quantify the potential benefits of deployment.
Overall, the survey highlights a growing interest and readiness for stablecoin adoption within the financial industry, driven by the potential cost savings and efficiency gains that this technology can offer.