a16z: Stablecoins Are Evolving from a Trading Tool to Core Financial Infrastructure, with Payments and Localization Trends Accelerating

BlockBeats News, April 25th. According to a research report released by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), stablecoins are evolving from an early-stage medium of exchange and store of value to a global financial infrastructure, with their use cases and market structure undergoing profound changes.

The data shows that regulatory clarity has become a key catalyst. After the enactment of the US GENIUS Act, stablecoin trading volume has significantly accelerated, with the adjusted transaction volume reaching approximately $4.5 trillion in Q1 2026. The European MiCA framework is driving stable demand formation in the non-dollar stablecoin market.

On the application front, stablecoin commercial payments are growing rapidly. In 2025, consumer-to-business (C2B) transactions increased by 128% year-on-year, and stablecoin card infrastructure (such as EtherFi Cash) has seen a monthly collateralization scale of over $300 million, indicating real consumer use cases are taking shape.

At the same time, the circulation speed of stablecoins has significantly increased. The turnover rate has risen from 2.6 times since 2024 to around 6 times, indicating a shift from being a "hold asset" to a "high-frequency payment medium."

In terms of regional distribution, Asia accounts for nearly two-thirds of the transaction volume, North America about a quarter, and Europe about 13%. It is worth noting that stablecoins are transitioning from being "cross-border payment tools" to "local payment tools": the proportion of domestic transactions within a single country has increased from around 50% in 2024 to nearly 75% in 2026.

Furthermore, non-dollar stablecoins are also rising in emerging markets, such as the Brazilian Real stablecoin BRLA, with a monthly trading volume approaching $400 million. The report concludes that the stablecoin system is presenting a structural feature of "global underlying network + localized applications" and is gradually becoming a universal payment infrastructure.