Stablecoins, payments, and Fortune 500 adoption dominated the summit as crypto positions itself as a core financial infrastructure, not just a speculative asset class.

At ’s third annual in New York on June 12, a clear message came through: Crypto’s speculative years are giving way to real-world adoption, with stablecoins, tokenization, and institutional buy-in driving the next era of digital finance.

The overarching tone of the summit was pragmatic optimism. Yes, prices still fluctuate, but crypto infrastructure is now powering a wide range of businesses and services across e-commerce, lending, payments, and loyalty — all with real users, growing volumes, and global footprints. Executives from Coinbase, , , and other companies outlined how crypto is increasingly intersecting with the mainstream economy, while athlete-investor offered a candid perspective on financial freedom, literacy, and wealth-building as crypto becomes more accessible to everyday consumers.

Across almost every panel, emerged as crypto’s most practical tool for payments, lending, payroll, and cross-border transactions. Multiple speakers referred to 2025 as stablecoins’ “breakout year.” Shopify CEO emphasized that stablecoins and crypto payments are now viable options in e-commerce checkouts, solving long-standing inefficiencies in global online transactions. , head of Coinbase’s Base blockchain, argued that the key infrastructure is finally in place — stablecoins, on-chain identity, seamless payments — to trigger widespread crypto adoption much sooner than many expect.

Coinbase CEO echoed those sentiments, but pointed to Bitcoin’s parallel rise as another sign of crypto’s growing role in the global economy. As inflation accelerates and governments continue deficit spending, Armstrong said more people are seeking alternatives to traditional financial systems—and are increasingly turning to Bitcoin as a hedge and store of value.

“People are turning to Bitcoin as a refuge from inflation and deficit spending, and it’s ultimately going to be a check and balance on this kind of activity,” Armstrong said. “If this continues, there’s a very good chance Bitcoin becomes the next reserve currency in the world.”

Coinbase used the summit to debut its latest product move: the , a crypto-powered credit card issued on the American Express network.

The card promises up to 4% rewards on everyday purchases, combining familiar credit card perks with native crypto incentives. This product aims to bridge the gap between traditional payments and digital assets, delivering everyday spending rewards while introducing more consumers to Bitcoin and stablecoins through familiar behavior.

Alongside the Amex card, Coinbase also deepened its partnership with Shopify, one of the world’s largest e-commerce platforms. Shopify merchants will now be able to integrate USDC stablecoin payments via Coinbase’s Base blockchain directly into their checkout experience, streamlining transactions, lowering fees, and expanding their global reach.

Coinbase also released its latest edition of The State of Crypto report, offering fresh data on the accelerating role of stablecoins across global business and finance.

Some of the most notable data points from the report include:

The underscored that crypto’s next phase is already unfolding — but this time, it’s not about price charts and speculation. Instead, it’s about real-world utility, regulatory alignment, financial inclusion, and consumer products built on top of stable, scalable infrastructure. Coinbase — alongside its partners and policymakers — is making a deliberate effort to position stablecoins as the quiet engine driving the next era of global finance.

The summit’s closing reception featured an Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 car on display, a nod to Coinbase’s newly launched partnership with the F1 team earlier this year. The activation underscored Coinbase’s growing presence across global sports and culture as crypto expands beyond finance.