What Drives Stablecoin Adoption Among Financial Institutions?
EY research identifies reduced transaction costs and faster payment processing as the primary catalysts for stablecoin adoption among financial institutions and corporates.
Primary Incentives
- 52% cite reduced transaction costs
- 45% point to faster cross-border payments
- 34% value 24/7 settlement and liquidity
Among current users, 41% reported cost savings exceeding 10%, particularly in B2B cross-border USD transactions.
What Is the Current State of Adoption?
Market Status
- Only 13% of financial institutions and corporates currently use stablecoins
- 54% of non-users anticipate adoption within 6-12 months
- Only 8% of corporates currently accept stablecoin payments
What Are the Market Projections?
Respondents believe 5-10% of cross-border payments will utilize stablecoins by 2030, potentially representing $2.1-4.2 trillion in annual value. This projection reflects both optimism about stablecoin efficiency and realistic assessment of adoption timelines.
What Is the Primary Barrier to Adoption?
Regulatory uncertainty remains the top concern at 73%. However, the GENIUS Act passage in July 2025 significantly improved clarity and optimism around stablecoin adoption.
What Is the Adoption Bottleneck?
The research identifies a critical bottleneck: while interest is high, only 8% of corporates currently accept stablecoin payments. This creates a dependency on broader ecosystem development before widespread adoption can occur—institutions need trading partners who can also transact in stablecoins.
The Coinbax Perspective
EY’s research confirms what drives institutional interest: cost savings and speed. But the 73% citing regulatory uncertainty as a barrier reveals the deeper challenge. The GENIUS Act addresses regulatory clarity—now institutions need operational infrastructure to execute.
The adoption bottleneck EY identifies (only 8% of corporates accepting stablecoin payments) will break when financial institutions can offer stablecoin services with the controls their compliance teams require. Programmable escrow, built-in reversibility, and real-time compliance bridge the gap between stablecoin efficiency and institutional-grade operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are cost savings the primary driver for stablecoin adoption?
Traditional cross-border payments involve multiple intermediaries, currency conversions, and settlement delays—each adding cost. Stablecoins enable direct settlement on blockchain rails, eliminating intermediary fees and reducing transaction costs by 10% or more for many users.
What explains the gap between interest and actual adoption?
The 54% planning adoption within 6-12 months versus the 13% currently using stablecoins reflects the network effect challenge. Institutions need trading partners who can also transact in stablecoins, creating a chicken-and-egg problem that regulatory clarity helps resolve.
How does the GENIUS Act affect these adoption projections?
The GENIUS Act provides the regulatory framework that 73% of respondents cited as the primary barrier. With clearer rules, institutions can build compliance programs and deploy stablecoin capabilities with confidence.
What infrastructure do institutions need to capture these cost savings?
Institutions need blockchain connectivity, compliance monitoring systems, and operational controls that satisfy regulators. Trust infrastructure—programmable escrow, reversibility, and real-time compliance—enables institutions to offer stablecoin services while maintaining expected safety standards.