Stablecoins Surge Toward $240B Milestone Amid Global Momentum

Institutional demand, payment adoption, and regulatory clarity fuel historic growth in the stablecoin sector.

Stablecoins are rapidly ascending to new heights, with their total market capitalization approaching an all-time high of $240 billion, signaling a transformative shift in digital finance. A combination of institutional interest, regulatory momentum, and mainstream payment integration is catapulting this once-niche asset class into the financial mainstream. According to DeFiLlama, the stablecoin market added over $5 billion in new supply in just the past week—a 2.18% increase—marking one of the fastest weekly upticks in recent history. With a 2.62% monthly gain, the sector’s upward trajectory appears far from over.

Stablecoins Enter a New Phase of Maturity

The growth of stablecoins is no longer limited to crypto-native platforms. Their integration into traditional finance and cross-border payment systems signals a broader adoption curve. Tether (USDT) continues to dominate with a market share of 61.92%. Other significant players include USD Coin (USDC), Ethena USDe (USDe), and Dai (DAI). Over the past year, active stablecoin wallets rose 53%, jumping from 19.6 million in February 2024 to 30 million by February 2025. Meanwhile, the total stablecoin supply has soared from $138 billion to $225 billion, marking a 63% annual growth. This acceleration underlines the critical role stablecoins now play in the digital economy.

Institutional Forecasts Project Trillions in Future Growth

Financial institutions are beginning to quantify the immense potential of the stablecoin market. In a recent report, Citigroup projected that the sector could exceed $2 trillion by 2030, depending on the trajectory of regulatory developments. The bank laid out several scenarios: a base case projecting $1.6 trillion in stablecoin supply, a bull case reaching $3.7 trillion, and a bear case where unclear regulation caps growth at around $500 billion. Similarly, Standard Chartered suggested that a well-defined regulatory framework could allow the stablecoin market to hit $2 trillion within just three years, underscoring the urgency of legislative progress.

Mastercard, Stripe Push Stablecoins Into Mainstream Payments

Perhaps the most tangible sign of stablecoins going mainstream is their adoption by global payments giants. Mastercard recently announced a sweeping strategy to integrate stablecoin payments into its network of over 150 million merchants. The company’s “360-degree” approach includes digital wallet integration, stablecoin card issuance, on-chain remittance capabilities, and real-time merchant settlement in digital dollars. This effort is backed by partnerships with Circle (issuer of USDC), Paxos, and Nuvei, a major payments processor. As part of this push, Mastercard has also launched the OKX Card in collaboration with leading exchange OKX, enabling direct stablecoin spending. Meanwhile, Stripe is preparing the rollout of its own USD stablecoin, with an eye on expanding usage beyond its primary markets in the U.S., UK, and EU.

Regulatory Tailwinds: U.S. Legislation Sets the Stage

Legislative efforts in the United States are accelerating, with bipartisan support coalescing around new frameworks to govern stablecoin issuance and use. The GENIUS Act, currently under review, aims to provide clear regulatory guidelines that would encourage adoption by traditional financial institutions without stifling innovation. This legal clarity is expected to attract new institutional players, enable wider banking sector involvement, and reinforce the U.S. dollar’s primacy in digital finance.

Global Expansion: UAE and Russia Join the Stablecoin Race

While the West builds regulatory infrastructure, other nations are pushing forward with sovereign-backed stablecoin initiatives of their own.

UAE: A Dirham-Backed Future

In the Middle East, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as a stablecoin innovation hub. Three of the region’s financial heavyweights—ADQ, International Holding Company (IHC), and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)—have joined forces to launch a dirham-backed stablecoin on the homegrown ADI blockchain. The initiative is backed by the UAE Central Bank and is designed for multiple use cases, including everyday retail purchases, automated machine-to-machine payments, and AI-driven financial operations. FAB is expected to issue the stablecoin following regulatory clearance, and the ADI Foundation has promoted the blockchain’s scalability and transparency as core advantages.

Russia: Exploring a Ruble-Backed Alternative

In Russia, discussions around a ruble-pegged stablecoin have gained traction following its debut as a key topic at the recent Blockchain Forum in Moscow. While concrete plans remain under development, the conversation signals increasing interest in leveraging stablecoins for financial sovereignty and cross-border trade.

Conclusion: Stablecoins Cement Their Role in Digital Finance

From Silicon Valley to Abu Dhabi and Moscow, stablecoins are no longer on the periphery of financial innovation—they’re moving to the center. Their role as a bridge between traditional finance and decentralized networks is becoming more apparent, supported by institutional investments, regulatory advances, and practical use cases. The numbers speak volumes: $240 billion market cap within reach, 53% year-over-year growth in active wallets, and $5 billion added in a single week. As regulatory clarity improves and global adoption expands, stablecoins appear poised not just to support the digital economy—but to redefine it.