Stablecoins Reshape Payments: Regulation, Liquidity, Adoption Drive 2026 Growth

• Stablecoins are evolving from trading tools to a programmable settlement layer in the global financial system, driven by clearer regulations, CBDC experiments, and tokenization.
• Three main types exist: privately issued reserve-backed stablecoins, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), and tokenized assets/hybrid models.
• Global stablecoin transaction volumes surged to $33 trillion in 2025, a 72% increase, with supply exceeding $300 billion, indicating broader use beyond trading.
• Key growth drivers include regulatory frameworks like the US GENIUS Act and EU MiCA, central bank CBDC pilots, and increased institutional interest in tokenized assets.
• India sees growing stablecoin adoption for remittances and B2B payments, with a cautious but thoughtful regulatory approach emerging, balancing innovation with monetary sovereignty.