Stablecoin Adoption Poised to Surge After GENIUS Act, EY Survey Projects $4T in Cross-Border Volume

Key Points:

• EY-Parthenon survey finds 54% of firms plan to adopt stablecoins within 12 months.

• The GENIUS Act is viewed as a regulatory turning point for stablecoin markets.

• Stablecoins could represent $2.1T–$4.2T in cross-border payments by 2030.

Regulatory Clarity Spurs Corporate Interest

Stablecoins are set for a major expansion in global finance as regulatory certainty begins to reshape adoption trends. A new EY-Parthenon survey of 350 executives, conducted in June, shows that more than half of firms expect to adopt stablecoins within the next year, citing both cost savings and legal clarity as primary drivers.

The findings come on the heels of the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, signed into law in July. The legislation established reserve requirements and issuer approval processes, creating what many in the survey called a “turning point” for the industry.

Current Usage and Adoption Outlook

At present, 13% of companies already use stablecoins, primarily for cross-border transfers. Among firms not yet using them, 54% indicated plans to adopt within six to twelve months. Executives highlighted reduced uncertainty around liquidity, tax treatment, and custodial services as critical enablers.

Cost efficiency remains another core factor. Of the businesses already using stablecoins, 41% reported saving at least 10% on international transaction costs compared to traditional banking rails. This aligns with industry expectations that blockchain-based settlement can significantly undercut fees in correspondent banking systems.

Market Potential: Trillions in Global Payments

EY-Parthenon projects that by 2030 stablecoins could account for 5%–10% of global cross-border payments, equating to $2.1 trillion to $4.2 trillion in annual settlement volume. With cross-border flows reaching nearly $43 trillion in 2024, even modest adoption levels signal a substantial shift in payment infrastructure.

“Stablecoins are quickly moving from experimentation to utility,” the report noted, emphasizing their potential to streamline corporate treasuries, trade finance, and remittance channels.

Remaining Hurdles and Strategic Behavior

Despite the optimism, businesses face infrastructure barriers. Only 8% of companies currently accept payments in stablecoins, underscoring the gap between treasury adoption and front-end customer integration. Many respondents said they plan to rely on banking and fintech partners for payment processing and compliance.

From a strategic perspective, the survey suggests firms are balancing enthusiasm with caution. Regulatory approval and reliable custodial arrangements are viewed as prerequisites before companies commit significant capital to stablecoin integration. Investor sentiment also reflects this calculated approach, with capital allocators closely tracking which stablecoin issuers emerge as dominant under the GENIUS framework.

Outlook for Stablecoins Post-GENIUS Act

The GENIUS Act has set the stage for what could be the first regulated growth cycle in the U.S. stablecoin market. As corporate adoption accelerates and global investors gain confidence, stablecoins are poised to expand far beyond crypto-native use cases into mainstream financial infrastructure.

If EY’s projections hold, stablecoins could become a trillion-dollar bridge asset in global finance over the next decade, shifting cross-border payments toward faster, cheaper, and more transparent systems. For businesses and regulators alike, the next phase will determine whether stablecoins cement their role as a cornerstone of digital finance.