Will stablecoins replace Visa and Mastercard? $719 trillion forecast signals major shift in global payments by 2035

Stablecoin forecast 2035 explained: The next decade of global payments could look very different from today, according to a forecast from blockchain research firm Chainalysis.

Stablecoin Transaction Volumes Projected to Reach $719 Trillion by 2035

The report estimates that stablecoin transaction volumes may reach around $719 trillion by 2035, driven by what it describes as a structural shift in how value moves through both cross-border flows and everyday commerce, as reported by CryptoProwl.

At present, stablecoins already move at scale, but much of that activity is not yet tied to real-world payments. In 2025, more than $35 trillion flowed across blockchain rails, as per CryptoProwl. However, a separate estimate from McKinsey & Company suggests only about 1% of that volume is actually used for payments, as per the CryptoProwl report.


Chainalysis expects that imbalance to narrow significantly over time as stablecoins become more integrated into everyday financial activity, pushing transaction volumes much higher.

Millennials and Gen Z Expected to Drive Future Payment Trends

A major factor in that outlook is the generational transfer of wealth. The report highlights an estimated $100 trillion expected to move from Baby Boomers to Millennials and Gen Z. These younger groups are more likely to engage with cryptocurrencies and are expected to influence how payments and financial tools are used going forward.

This shift in financial behavior could gradually change how value is stored and transferred, with stablecoins becoming more familiar in daily transactions rather than remaining a specialized tool.

Stablecoin Volumes Could Rival Visa and Mastercard by 2039

At the same time, stablecoin activity is moving closer to traditional payment networks in scale. Current trends suggest on-chain transaction volumes could approach the levels processed by Visa and Mastercard by around 2039, as per the report.

How Stablecoins Enable Faster and 24/7 Global Settlement

Part of what is driving this transition is how stablecoins function. They allow near-instant settlement, operate continuously without downtime, and support programmable transactions. This makes them increasingly relevant for remittances, business payments, and treasury operations, where efficiency and speed matter.

As merchant acceptance grows, using stablecoins is also becoming less of an intentional decision and more of an integrated payment experience.

USDC and USDT Dominate the Global Stablecoin Market

Stablecoins themselves are digital assets designed to maintain a stable value, typically pegged to the US dollar, as per the CryptoProwl report. The most widely used today include USDC, issued by Circle Internet Group, and USDT, issued by Tether.

FAQs

Why is stablecoin usage expected to grow?
Because integration into everyday financial activity is expected to increase.

What makes stablecoins useful for payments?
Near-instant settlement, 24/7 operation, and programmable transactions.