- New study from BVNK surveyed 4,600 cryptocurrency users and prospective users across 15 countries
- 39% say they now receive income in stablecoins, including salaries, freelance pay, and cross-border work
- 77% say they would open a stablecoin wallet with their primary fintech or banking provider if one were offered
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A new global study released today by BVNK reveals that stablecoins are no longer niche, but are becoming a practical, everyday form of money being used around the world for everything from getting paid to buying goods and services.
That's according to BVNK's Stablecoin Utility Report, which surveyed over 4,600 early adopters and crypto-natives in 15 countries. The study was carried out by YouGov on behalf of BVNK, and in partnership with Coinbase and Artemis. It shows how people are turning to stablecoins to move money more quickly, securely, and affordably - and how this shift in behavior is becoming a worldwide trend beyond its roots in the Global South.
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged 1:1 to the US Dollar, designed to offer price stability and make them suitable for fast and secure everyday payments. The report surveyed individuals who currently hold cryptocurrency (including stablecoins), have held it in the past 12 months, or plan to in the next 12 months.
It found that stablecoins are no longer limited to speculative trading or niche use cases. Instead, these crypto-natives and early adopters are using them for real-world financial needs, particularly for faster, more affordable, and more secure money movement.
Chris Harmse, co-founder of BVNK, commented: "When we talk about stablecoins, we hear the macro numbers: hundreds of billions in market cap, trillions in annual transaction volume. But if you're sitting in London or New York, you might be thinking: When was the last time I paid for something in stablecoins? When did I see a 'pay with stablecoins' option on a website? The skepticism feels rational. So how are people actually using them?
"That's what we've set out to answer with this report. Stablecoins are being used in the real world because they solve real-world problems. People are already getting paid and spending stablecoins, especially where traditional payments are slow, expensive, or unreliable. They're using them like everyday money, and asking for greater integration into their existing financial tools so they can continue to benefit from this revolution in money movement."
Key findings from the report are:
- People are getting paid in stablecoins: 39% of those surveyed said that they are getting paid in stablecoins - whether that's by family and friends, or professionally. And amongst this cohort, stablecoins represent around one-third (35%) of their annual earnings. Three-quarters of those paid in stablecoins say it has increased their ability to do business internationally, and 76% of marketplace sellers reported improved sales volume. Those paid in stablecoins saw an average fee savings of 40% compared with traditional remittance methods.
- Stablecoins are everyday money: 27% of stablecoin holders are using them as a payment method for everyday activities. They hold an average of $200 of stablecoins in their wallets, using them as everyday currency rather than as savings. More than half (52%) of crypto holders have purchased something specifically because the merchant accepted stablecoins, with that share rising to 60% in emerging markets.
- People want wider stablecoin acceptance: The top reasons to pay with stablecoins are operational, not ideological: lower fees (30%), security (28%), and global access (27%). The demand for stablecoins exceeds current spending opportunities. For example, 42% of people want to spend crypto and stablecoins on major or lifestyle purchases, while only 28% currently do.
- People wish stablecoins were easier to use: People want to connect stablecoins to their existing banking and fintech services - 77% of consumers surveyed would open a stablecoin wallet if their personal bank or fintech app offered one, and almost three-quarters (71%) are interested in using a linked debit card to spend their stablecoins.
Regional adoption
The trend towards everyday use of stablecoins has been driven by conditions in South America, Asia, and Africa, where traditional money movement can be slow, expensive, or restricted. 60% of crypto-native respondents across these emerging markets held stablecoins, and in Africa, that figure was as high as 79%. In these economies, where moving money is difficult and currencies can be volatile, stablecoins have become a vital tool for stability and financial inclusion.
The report showed that increasingly, more developed economies such as the US, the UK, and Europe are recognising the potential of stablecoins to modernise payments and accelerate global money movement, with regulatory frameworks evolving rapidly to enable mainstream adoption. 45% of cryptocurrency users in high-income economies said that they held stablecoins, and their holdings were substantially higher at around $1,000, compared to $85 in emerging markets.
"In many emerging economies, people have adopted stablecoins out of necessity," said John Turner, Group Product Manager for stablecoins at Coinbase, who partnered with BVNK on the report. "What's changing now is that people in developed markets are starting to feel the same frustrations with money movement. They want payments that are instant, global, and low-cost. As regulation develops across the US, UK, and Europe, stablecoins are increasingly being seen as a practical upgrade to existing payment systems, rather than a niche crypto product."
Anthony Yim, Co-Founder & CEO at crypto research firm Artemis, added: "We're experiencing a significant behavioral shift in the way that people are using stablecoins. Crypto natives and early adopters are fully on board with stablecoins, using them to pay and be paid. This is driving mainstream, global adoption - stablecoin supply has increased 500% over the past five years, alongside the passage of multiple legislation initiatives in numerous countries. It's clear we're experiencing a tipping point."
The report is available for download from BVNK.com/Utility.
About the study: YouGov surveyed 4,658 adults online aged 18+ years across 15 countries. All respondents either currently hold/held cryptocurrency, including stablecoins, in the last 12 months, or intend to acquire cryptocurrency, including stablecoins, in the next 12 months. The sample was sourced from YouGov's panel of preferred suppliers. Fieldwork conducted by YouGov, September - October 2025.
About BVNK: BVNK is the stablecoin-powered financial stack for enterprises. Build financial products. Unlock new markets. Move money in seconds across 130+ countries. One platform for every use case. Trusted by Worldpay, Deel, and Flywire. Processing billions annually. Learn more at BVNK.com.
About Artemis
Artemis is the premier analytics platform for blockchain data. Industry leaders such as Visa, Grayscale, Pantera, VanEck, Tether, Circle, and more trust Artemis to help them understand what is really happening onchain and offchain.
About Coinbase: Crypto creates economic freedom by ensuring that people can participate fairly in the economy, and Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN) is on a mission to increase economic freedom for more than 1 billion people. We're updating the century-old financial system by providing a trusted platform that makes it easy for people and institutions to engage with crypto assets, including trading, staking, safekeeping, spending, and fast, free global transfers. We also provide critical infrastructure for onchain activity and support builders who share our vision that onchain is the new online. Together with the crypto community, we advocate for responsible regulations to make the benefits of crypto accessible around the world.
Editor's Note: For the purposes of this report, the sample was segmented into the following categories:
- Early Adopters: Respondents who currently own one or more cryptocurrencies and have successfully completed at least one transaction in the past [12 months].
- Crypto-Natives: Defined as highly active participants who utilize blockchain technology beyond simple holding (e.g., engaging in DeFi, NFTs, or self-custody wallets) and primarily transact using cryptocurrency.
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