Stablecoin-powered payment cards are poised to become a major force in global finance this year, marking one of the defining trends in cryptocurrency adoption, according to Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at crypto venture capital firm Dragonfly.
Qureshi highlighted the explosive growth of these cards, stating:
“Stablecoin cards are growing like crazy, everywhere in the world. This is one of the big themes of 2026: crypto becomes enmeshed more deeply into how payments flow through the global economy.”
These cards allow users to spend stablecoins (such as USDT or USDC) like traditional debit or credit cards, offering the speed, low costs, and global reach of blockchain technology while delivering a familiar payment experience for consumers and merchants. Often, users in emerging markets may not even realise that the underlying crypto infrastructure is powering their transactions, which they benefit from, allowing them to spend dollars anytime, anywhere.
The prediction follows a funding milestone for stablecoin infrastructure provider Rain, which raised $250 million in a Series C round (valuing the company at $1.95 billion) with participation from Dragonfly and other top investors like ICONIQ, Sapphire Ventures, and Bessemer Venture Partners. Rain reported a 30-fold increase in active card users and nearly 40-fold growth in annualized payment volume in 2025, handling over $3 billion in transactions annually for partners including Western Union, Nuvei, and KAST.
Supporting this momentum is surging overall stablecoin activity. Transaction volumes jumped 72% to $33 trillion in recent periods, fueled by favorable U.S. policies under President Donald Trump and the passage of the GENIUS Act, which has accelerated regulatory clarity for stablecoins.
Other developments include:
- Western Union planning to launch a stablecoin settlement system on Solana and a consumer stablecoin card targeted at emerging markets in the first half of 2026.
- Canada and the UK advancing their own stablecoin regulatory frameworks in 2026.
- Bloomberg Intelligence forecasting stablecoin payment flows to grow at an 81% CAGR, reaching $56.6 trillion by 2030.
While adoption is expected to accelerate in emerging markets, cross-border payments, and for merchants seeking instant settlements and reduced fees, some experts remain cautious about challenging traditional cards in developed markets, citing the need for strong incentives and merchant networks.
