By Josh Solesbury (Investor at ParaFi)
Translated and Edited for Clarity
The past six months have witnessed explosive growth in stablecoin-related headlines, catalyzed by Stripe’s acquisition of Bridge and progress on the GENIUS Act. From major bank CEOs to payment company product managers and government officials, key decision-makers are increasingly discussing stablecoins and advocating their advantages.
Stablecoins are built on four core pillars:
- Instant settlement (T + 0, significantly reducing working capital needs);
- Ultra-low transaction costs (especially compared to SWIFT);
- Global accessibility (24/7 availability, requiring only an internet connection);
- Programmability (money driven by extensible coding logic).
These pillars perfectly encapsulate the benefits promoted across news headlines, blogs, and interviews. Thus, the "why" behind stablecoins is easily understood—but the "how" remains far more complex. Few resources currently detail how to integrate stablecoins into existing business models, whether for fintech product managers or banking executives.
This guide serves as a primer for non-crypto enterprises exploring stablecoin applications. Below, we analyze four distinct business models, detailing:
- Where stablecoins create value;
- Implementation pathways;
- Revised product architectures.
Ultimately, headlines matter less than mass adoption. We aim for stablecoins to achieve scalable use in real-world business scenarios. Let’s dive in.
Consumer Fintech Banking
For consumer-facing (To C) digital banks, value creation hinges on optimizing three levers: user base, average revenue per user (ARPU), and churn rate. Stablecoins directly enhance the first two—by integrating partner infrastructure, banks can launch stablecoin-based remittance services, reaching new users while layering revenue streams for existing clients.
In today’s globalized market, many fintechs target cross-border demographics. Some position multinational services as core offerings (e.g., Revolut or DolarApp), while others treat them as ARPU-boosting modules (e.g., Nubank or Lemon). For startups focused on diasporas or niche communities (e.g., Felix Pago or Abound), remittances are essential. All these digital banks benefit from stablecoin-powered transfers.
Compared to traditional remittance services (e.g., Western Union), stablecoins enable faster (instant vs. 2–5+ days) and cheaper (as low as 30 bps vs. 300+ bps) settlements. For instance, DolarApp charges just $3 for USD-to-Mexico transfers with instant delivery. This explains why stablecoin penetration in corridors like U.S.-Mexico has reached 10–20%, with growth accelerating.
Beyond new revenue, stablecoins optimize costs and user experience—particularly as internal settlement tools. Many operators face weekend settlement pain points: bank closures delay processing by two days. Digital banks pursuing real-time services often bridge this gap with working capital credit, incurring opportunity costs (especially burdensome in high-rate environments) or forcing additional fundraising. Stablecoins resolve this via instant, global settlements. Robinhood exemplifies this; CEO Vlad Tenev noted in a February 2025 earnings call: "We use stablecoins for significant weekend settlement volumes, with adoption scaling steadily."**
Thus, consumer fintechs like Revolut and Robinhood are embracing stablecoins. How might your bank or fintech leverage them?
Implementation Framework
24/7 Instant Settlement
- Use USDC, USDT, or USDG for real-time settlements (including holidays).
- Integrate wallet coordinators (e.g., Fireblocks or Bridge) to bridge bank systems and blockchain USD flows.
- Partner with fiat ramps (e.g., Africa’s Yellow Card) for B2B/B2B2C conversions.
Fiat Settlement Gaps
- Use stablecoins as temporary fiat substitutes during weekends, reconciling when banks reopen.
- Build internal settlement loops via providers like Paxos.
Counterparty Funding
- Bypass ACH/wire delays by leveraging liquidity partners for rapid fund transfers to exchanges/partners.
Global Treasury Management
- Shift funds across subsidiaries via on-chain stablecoins when fiat channels close.
- Establish automated, scalable global cash management systems.
Remittances and settlements are just the beginning. Next-gen banks could pioneer programmable payments, cross-border asset management, and tokenized equities—winning markets via superior UX, diverse products, and lower costs.
Commercial Banking & B2B Services
Business owners in Nigeria, Indonesia, or Brazil face steep hurdles opening USD accounts at local banks. Typically, only high-volume firms or those with special connections qualify—assuming the bank has sufficient USD liquidity. Local currency accounts force entrepreneurs to bear bank and sovereign credit risks, juggling exchange-rate volatility to maintain working capital. Paying overseas suppliers incurs steep FX fees.
Stablecoins alleviate these frictions. Forward-thinking commercial banks can play pivotal roles by offering compliant digital dollar platforms (e.g., USDC or USDG), enabling:
- Multi-currency balances without complex banking relationships;
- Cross-border invoice settlements in seconds (bypassing correspondent networks);
- Interest-bearing stablecoin deposits.
Banks can thus upgrade basic checking accounts into global multi-currency solutions with unmatched speed, transparency, and resilience.
Key Applications
- Global USD/Multi-Currency Accounts: Partner with Fireblocks or Stripe-Bridge to custody stablecoins, reducing licensing needs and eliminating FBO accounts.
- High-Yield Products: Offer ~4% yields backed by U.S. Treasuries (lower risk than local banks). Partner with yield-bearing stablecoin providers (e.g., Paxos) or tokenized-T-bill platforms (e.g., Superstate/Securitize).
- Real-Time Treasury: Enable importers to pay suppliers instantly, or CFOs to move funds across multinationals seamlessly.
Payroll Providers
For payroll platforms, stablecoins’ greatest value lies in serving employers paying workers in emerging markets. Cross-border or infrastructure-scarce payments impose heavy costs—absorbed by platforms, passed to employers, or deducted from contractor pay. The easiest opportunity? Enabling stablecoin payouts.
As noted earlier, stablecoin transfers from U.S. systems to contractor wallets cost near-zero and settle instantly (depending on fiat ramps). While contractors may still pay FX fees, they receive payments anchored to the world’s strongest fiat immediately. Demand is surging:
- Users pay ~4.7% premiums for dollar stablecoins (up to 30% in Argentina);
- Stablecoins gain popularity among freelancers in LatAm and beyond;
- Apps like Airtm see exponential stablecoin adoption.
Stablecoins also enhance transparency and automation. A recent fintech survey found 66% of payroll professionals lack tools to track actual costs with banking partners. Fees are opaque; processes are convoluted. Stablecoins’ programmability and blockchain ledgers enable:
- Automated batch payments via smart contracts;
- Seamless accounting/tax reconciliation with immutable transaction records;
- Embedded DeFi services (e.g., salary-linked financing).
Card Issuers
Many firms monetize through card issuance. For example, Chime—which IPOed June 12—generates over $1B annually from U.S. transaction fees alone. Yet traditional card issuance demands country-by-country licensing or local bank partnerships, hindering expansion.
Stablecoins disrupt this:
- New platforms like Rain leverage Visa memberships to offer global stablecoin card issuance;
- 24/7 settlements reduce collateral requirements by enabling weekend processing;
- On-chain verifiability streamlines collateral management.
Implementation
- Partner with Visa and issuers for USD-denominated global card programs;
- Offer flexible settlement: stablecoins directly, hybrid fiat conversions, or traditional methods;
- Reduce collateral needs via real-time settlements.
Conclusion
Stablecoins are no longer speculative—they’re practical technologies with exponential adoption. The question isn’t "if" but "when" and "how" to integrate them. Enterprises deploying stablecoin solutions will outperform peers in cost savings, revenue growth, and market expansion—backed by legislative tailwinds and partner ecosystems. Now is the time to build.
FAQs
Q: Which industries benefit most from stablecoin integration?
A: Cross-border heavy sectors like remittances, payroll, B2B commerce, and card issuance see immediate ROI.
Q: How do stablecoins reduce banking costs?
A: By eliminating intermediary fees, lowering collateral needs, and enabling 24/7 settlements.
Q: Are stablecoins compliant with financial regulations?
A: Leading stablecoins (e.g., USDC) adhere to AML/KYC standards, with frameworks like GENIUS enhancing clarity.