Stablecoin may reach $1 trillion in payments by 2030, accounting for 12% of global cross-border flow according to a new report from Keyrock.
The stablecoin market is entering a phase of explosive growth with the potential to revolutionize global payment infrastructure. The report "Stablecoin Payments: The Trillion Dollar Opportunity" published this week by crypto asset LP Keyrock in collaboration with Bitso platform shows that stablecoin will become a dominant force in the digital financial ecosystem.
According to the study, the total annual stablecoin payment volume is expected to exceed $1 trillion by 2030 in key areas. This figure marks a significant leap from its current position, where stablecoin only accounts for less than 3% of the $195 trillion cross-border payment market in 2024. Notably, the report predicts that stablecoin could support 12% of the entire global cross-border payment flow, equivalent to 1 in every 8 USD transferred internationally.
DeFi unlocks superior capital efficiency
The key factor driving this growth is decentralized financial infrastructure (DeFi) with its ability to optimize liquid capital. The report emphasizes that DeFi credit protocols are becoming new working capital engines, with a typical example from Mansa recording an average capital turnover of 11 times per month, far exceeding the 1-2 times per year of traditional fintechs like Wise.
This efficiency stems from the ability to eliminate traditional escrow models, where businesses must lock capital in multiple local accounts. Instead, stablecoin allows "just-in-time" liquidity and programmable payment mechanisms, freeing up an estimated $27 trillion currently "stuck" in the current global payment system.
The macro impact of this trend is also notable as stablecoin increasingly influences US monetary policy. With a projected supply of $2 trillion, stablecoin will hold nearly 25% of the treasury market, directly impacting Fed decisions and short-term yields. Stablecoin issuers are currently ranked 17th globally in the US Treasury's list of creditors, surpassing both South Korea and Saudi Arabia.
The proportion of stablecoin in the US M2 money supply has increased from 0.04% in 2020 to over 1% currently, and may reach 10% by 2030. These figures reflect a structural shift in global liquidity flow, while also presenting new challenges for central banks in managing monetary policy.
