SKN | Stablecoins Gain Ground for Paychecks and Daily Spending as Adoption Broadens, BVNK Finds

Key Points

• A BVNK-commissioned survey found 39% of crypto users receive income in stablecoins, while 27% use them for everyday payments.

• Stablecoin users report average cross-border fee savings of roughly 40% compared with traditional remittance channels.

• Global stablecoin market capitalization has climbed to $307.8 billion, reflecting accelerating enterprise and payroll integration.

Stablecoins are moving beyond trading desks and into paychecks, remittances and daily commerce, according to a new global survey commissioned by London-based payments infrastructure firm BVNK.

The study, conducted by YouGov across 15 countries and surveying 4,658 adults who either hold or plan to acquire cryptocurrency, found that 39% of respondents receive income in stablecoins. Another 27% said they use stablecoins for everyday payments, citing lower transaction costs and faster cross-border transfers as primary drivers.

The findings point to a structural shift in how digital dollars are being used — not as speculative instruments, but as transactional tools.

From Trading to Income Streams

Respondents who receive income in stablecoins said the assets account for approximately 35% of their annual earnings on average. Globally, users reported holding about $200 worth of stablecoins in their wallets, though balances in high-income economies averaged closer to $1,000.

Ownership patterns varied significantly by region. Sixty percent of respondents in middle- and lower-income economies reported holding stablecoins, compared with 45% in high-income countries. Africa recorded the highest ownership rate at 79%, alongside the strongest year-over-year growth in holdings.

More than half of crypto holders surveyed said they made a purchase specifically because a merchant accepted stablecoins. In emerging markets, that figure rose to 60%. Meanwhile, 42% expressed interest in using stablecoins for major or lifestyle purchases, compared with 28% who currently do so.

Payments Infrastructure Expands

The survey also revealed strong demand for integration with traditional financial platforms. Seventy-seven percent of respondents said they would open a stablecoin wallet with their primary bank or fintech provider if available, while 71% expressed interest in using a linked debit card to spend stablecoins.

Users appear comfortable managing balances across multiple tokens rather than relying on a single issuer, often holding a mix of dollar- and euro-pegged assets.

When asked where they prefer to manage stablecoins, 46% selected exchange platforms, followed by payment apps such as PayPal or Venmo at 40%, and mobile crypto wallet apps at 39%. Only 13% preferred hardware wallets, underscoring the emphasis on convenience over cold storage.

According to DefiLlama, the total stablecoin market has reached $307.8 billion, up from $260.4 billion in July, reflecting accelerating adoption amid evolving regulatory clarity.

Regulatory Tailwinds and Payroll Adoption

Stablecoins are increasingly entering regulated payroll systems. In the United States, the passage of the GENIUS Act has provided clearer federal oversight for stablecoin issuers, while Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation has established a licensing framework across the European Union.

Global payroll platform Deel recently announced it would offer stablecoin salary payouts through a partnership with MoonPay, initially in the UK and EU before expanding to the U.S. Under the arrangement, employees can opt to receive part or all of their wages in stablecoins to non-custodial wallets.

Enterprise consolidation is also accelerating. Payments firm Paystand acquired Bitwage to expand cross-border stablecoin settlement capabilities across its B2B network, which has processed more than $20 billion in payment volume.

Structural Implications

Unlike volatile cryptocurrencies, stablecoins are typically pegged 1:1 to fiat currencies such as the U.S. dollar or euro, making them suitable for income and spending use cases. The reported 40% fee savings on cross-border transfers highlights the economic incentive driving adoption.

The BVNK survey suggests stablecoins are evolving into a parallel financial rail for global workers and consumers, particularly in emerging markets where traditional banking infrastructure may be costly or limited.

As regulatory frameworks solidify and integration with mainstream financial platforms deepens, stablecoins appear positioned to move further into everyday financial life — not as speculative bets, but as programmable, borderless cash equivalents.