The global payments landscape is at a turning point. Over the past decade, cryptocurrencies have steadily carved out a growing share of transaction volumes. Now, with the rise of stablecoins and seamless movement between crypto and fiat, 2025 is poised to be a game-changer. This year will mark a surge in crypto payment adoption, driving unprecedented growth and reshaping the way businesses and consumers interact with digital assets. Here’s what we expect for the global payments landscape in 2025—and why it’s set to be a transformative year.
The Rise Of Stablecoins:
For years, businesses have been hesitant to accept crypto payments or implement crypto into their payment workflow due to volatility. A sudden market downturn or regulatory changes could wipe out 30-50% of the value if held on their balance sheets.
Stablecoins like USDC and USDT have since solved this problem, allowing businesses to use digital assets without the risk of price fluctuations. In 2023, stablecoins processed $10.8 trillion in total transaction volume, in Q2 2024 alone, they handled $8.5 trillion across 1.1 billion transactions, surpassing traditional payment networks like Visa, which processed $3.9 trillion over the same time period.
From stablecoins being adopted by the U.S. government to disburse foreign aid to affiliate networks making millions of global payouts, the way money is being moved cross-border is undergoing an irreversible transformation.
Looking ahead, projections show that by 2028, cross-border stablecoin payments will account for nearly 80% of global stablecoin transaction volume. This growth is evident with Ripple launching its own stablecoin (RLUSD) on the XRP and Ethereum ledgers, PayPal launching PYUSD while existing issuers like Circle and Tether are expanding to issue stablecoins for additional fiat currencies like Euros, Pounds, Mexican Pesos and the Chinese Yuan.
A rapidly increasing number of global businesses are now shifting away from traditional banking and remittance systems such as SWIFT, choosing instead to manage funds by moving fiat into stablecoins for global money movement. SpaceX is at the forefront of this trend by choosing to move both funds from Starlink customer payments as well as funds from government contracts worldwide in stablecoins, avoiding the compliance and paperwork headaches that come when sending international transactions.
Growing Crypto Users - The Need For Retail Infrastructure
Crypto adoption has seen impressive growth in recent years, and experts predict even more expansion heading into 2025. By 2024, around 6.8% of the global population, or over 560 million people, owned some form of crypto. Looking ahead, that number is expected to soar, with projections from Statista estimating 861 million crypto users by 2025. In the U.S. alone, adoption is set to exceed 30%, bringing over 65 million adults on-chain. The rise of popular memecoins has played a significant role in driving first-time crypto users. For example, when US President Donald Trump launched the $TRUMP memecoin on January 17, 2025, it quickly surged to a $75 billion market valuation, bringing with him many supporters to crypto for the first time.
With between 800 million and 1 billion people globally expected to be on-chain by 2025, representing over 10% of the world’s population, the demand for secure and efficient retail crypto infrastructure has never been higher.
Crypto Payments For Businesses
C2B crypto payments are also gaining momentum across various sectors, including high-end luxury goods (such as watches, bags, and luxury cars), e-commerce, retail, and SaaS. As more consumers, many of which being HNWI, are turning to crypto for purchases, many businesses are wanting to accept crypto payments and gain exposure to the crypto market for the first time.
Stripe’s $1.1 billion acquisition of Bridge has sparked a wave of traditional and new age payment gateways embracing crypto. As more businesses integrate crypto payments, the demand for seamless on and off-ramp solutions has never been higher. A standout development in this space is instant settlements – allowing businesses to accept crypto while automatically converting it to fiat. This provides exposure to the crypto market without the volatility, making it easier than ever for merchants to tap into digital assets without financial risk.
Another growing area for C2B crypto transfers is crypto philanthropy. With the average cryptocurrency donation around $6,300—nearly 30 times larger than the typical online cash donation—there's been a significant shift toward crypto in the charitable sector. In fact, over half of the 100 largest U.S. nonprofits now accept cryptocurrency. With Bitcoin, Ethereum and stablecoins, particularly USDC and USDT, have become the go-to choice for donations, driving a surge in crypto philanthropy. With projections suggesting crypto donations could surpass $10 billion by 2032, it’s clear that digital assets are making a real impact in the world of giving.
Regulations And Global Market Sentiment
President Donald Trump's approach to crypto regulation is more game-changing than many realize. With a more favorable view of crypto, it’s finally starting to be recognized for more than just the "get 20x on your money in a week" hype. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's recent comment, "Our Banks Are Perfectly Able to Serve Crypto," which sparked an immediate market boost, reflects a shift in sentiment towards digital assets. Brian Moynihan, Bank Of America CEO, has further reinforced this sentiment by expressing that the U.S. banking industry is ready to get involved with crypto payments if regulations allow.
Investment sentiment towards crypto is also picking up with Y Combinator, one of the world's leading accelerator programs, pushing for innovation in the crypto space by including stablecoin advancements in its request for startups applying to the winter cohort.
Other countries that have long been crypto-friendly include El Salvador, the UAE, and Japan. These nations have created environments that encourage the use and growth of digital currencies. The European Union has also been making strides in fostering a positive space for crypto, with the introduction of MiCA (Markets In Crypto Assets) Regulations. This regulatory framework is designed to provide clarity and security for crypto businesses, helping to integrate digital assets more seamlessly into the broader financial system.
National Crypto Reserves
The U.S. government, under President Donald Trump, is set to make a bold move with its plan to create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve—potentially changing the game for digital assets. By holding Bitcoin, with plans to expand to Ethereum, altcoins, and stablecoins, the U.S. would send a strong signal of long-term confidence in crypto’s role in the global economy.
But they aren't the only nation embracing this shift. El Salvador, for a long time, has been accepting Bitcoin as legal tender and currently holds around 6,000 BTC in its reserves. Tether, the issuer of the stablecoin USDT has also relocated its headquarters to El Salvador due to its stance on crypto. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic is also making strides, with Czech National Bank Governor Aleš Michl proposing the allocation of up to 5% of the country's €140 billion reserves—about €7 billion—to Bitcoin. Countries like Switzerland, Brazil and Mexico are also eyeing crypto reserves as part of their financial systems.
If the U.S. moves forward with its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve in 2025, it could push global crypto adoption into overdrive. These actions wouldn’t just elevate crypto as an asset class but solidify its status as a store of value that’s easily exchanged for goods and services. With Polymarket odds placing a 69% chance (as of January 28th, 2025) on a strategic Bitcoin reserve being implemented by the end of 2025, we’re likely on the brink of a significant shift in how the world views digital assets.
Radom is positioning itself at the forefront of this financial revolution, offering seamless crypto payment solutions, global fiat settlements, and a comprehensive banking infrastructure. As businesses increasingly adopt digital assets for transactions, Radom provides the tools to make crypto payments effortless and secure.
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