Morning Minute: Stablecoins Are Eating Everything
Stripe announced a $159 billion valuation, largely due to its stablecoin infrastructure, and Meta confirmed plans to re-enter payments with a stablecoin-focused strategy for its 3 billion users. Meta has issued requests for proposals to crypto infrastructure firms to manage stablecoin-based payments across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, with a target launch in early H2 2026. Stripe, after acquiring the Bridge stablecoin platform and securing a U.S. bank trust charter, is seen as the top contender to partner with Meta. Meta will not issue its own token but will integrate existing stablecoins via a new in-app wallet, focusing on enabling payments rather than launching a currency. With nearly 4 billion unique monthly users across its apps, Meta’s move could drive unprecedented real-world stablecoin adoption—especially for remittances, creator payouts, and cross-border transfers. The approach avoids regulatory pitfalls that sank Meta’s previous stablecoin project. Likely beneficiaries include Circle, Tether, Stripe, Meta, and related crypto infrastructure layers, positioning stablecoins for significant growth despite broader market downturns.
