On June 13th, The Wall Street Journal reported that both Amazon and Walmart are exploring plans to launch their own stablecoins. This news arrives amid a growing wave of stablecoin developments from some of the world’s biggest tech and payment giants — a trend that signals a broader shift in how digital money may soon be integrated into mainstream commerce.

We previously covered the evolution and promise of stablecoins in detail on June 8, 2025. But the space is moving fast, and the players are getting bigger. In August 2023, PayPal launched its own stablecoin, which has since reached a market capitalization of $1 billion. More recently, on June 12, 2025, Reuters reported that Jack Ma’s Ant Group has applied for licenses in Hong Kong and Singapore to issue a stablecoin. Meanwhile, Tether (USDT), the largest existing stablecoin company, boasts a market cap of $160 billion and generates over $5 billion in annual profits.

On the regulatory front, the U.S. Senate is preparing to vote on legislation governing payment stablecoins — a development that could reshape the legal landscape for this sector. Circle, the U.S.-based and fully regulated issuer of the USDC stablecoin, went public on June 5 at $31 per share. By June 9, the stock had surged to $125, giving the company a market cap of $30 billion. It currently has $60 billion worth of stablecoins in circulation. Even Meta (formerly Facebook) is back in the spotlight.

On May 8, Fortune reported that Meta is preparing to launch a new stablecoin — just three years after its earlier attempt, Libra (later rebranded as Diem), was shot down by regulators. Unsurprisingly, senators like Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal have already sent letters to Mark Zuckerberg expressing concern about the new initiative. Stripe, the $85 billion payments company, is also making moves. On February 4, CNBC reported that Stripe had closed a $1.1 billion Bridge round as part of its aggressive push into stablecoins.

So why revisit stablecoins now, just a week after our in-depth explainer?

Because the landscape is changing — fast. Stablecoins are no longer a fringe innovation whispered about in crypto circles. They are becoming tools of strategic importance for the world’s largest corporations. Yet, public perception still lags behind.

Many traditional investors remain skeptical, either due to lack of understanding or because of persistent fear-mongering from powerful figures in legacy finance — think Jamie Dimon or government policymakers who see crypto as a threat to monetary control. But when household names like Amazon, Walmart, PayPal, Meta, and Ant Group start issuing digital dollars, it sends a powerful message: this technology is not only legitimate — it’s inevitable. As writers, we aim to inform and spark curiosity. And the truth is, readers tend to trust brands they know. If companies you shop from every day are embracing stablecoins, perhaps it’s time to pay attention. This isn’t about hype — it’s about staying informed as the future of money unfolds.

In essence, it’s a cryptocurrency designed to hold its value — typically pegged to the U.S. dollar — allowing users to transfer digital dollars instantly across borders without intermediaries like banks. One USDC or USDT is meant to equal one U.S. dollar, today and tomorrow. But that stability only holds if the issuing company properly manages reserves. If they don’t, users bear the risk. This is the magic — and the risk — of decentralized finance: speed and efficiency without relying on traditional gatekeepers. But it’s also why oversight and transparency will be critical as adoption spreads.

The previous U.S. administration attempted to slow the growth of this industry, fearing loss of control. But with global corporations now staking billions on stablecoins, the genie may be out of the bottle. Whether you’re a crypto enthusiast or a cautious observer, the conversation around money is changing. And it’s being led not by niche developers in basements — but by the titans of global commerce.

Shopify is a cloud-based, e-commerce platform that provides tools for businesses to build, manage, and grow their online stores and retail businesses and with a market cap of 136 billion. Shopify has enabled USDC Payments on Coinbase’s Base for Merchants Worldwide. Question is why are all these retailers going for stablecoins. What is the advantage over credit card companies and other payment mechanisms?

Banks have traditionally served as custodians of deposits and facilitators of capital by lending to businesses after conducting thorough due diligence, thereby generating returns on customer deposits. However, they have not excelled in providing efficient payment services. This gap in functionality led to the rise of the credit card and broader payment services industries over the past several decades. These payment intermediaries, while essential, come with significant costs. Credit card companies typically charge merchants a transaction fee ranging from 2% to 3.5%, which increases the cost of doing business for retailers or ultimately for consumers.

Moreover, the settlement process—transferring funds from the credit card company’s bank to the merchant’s bank—often involves delays. The entire ecosystem is complex, with multiple touchpoints, layers of fraud protection, and insurance mechanisms, all of which contribute to the high fees needed to sustain profitability. Retail, by nature, operates on thin margins and relies heavily on volume. For a company with $100 billion in annual sales, even a 2% fee translates into a $2 billion cost. If retailers can instead issue and use a stablecoin within their own ecosystems—facilitating instant, fee-free transfers among stores, offices, and suppliers—they stand to significantly reduce costs and increase operational efficiency. This represents a substantial opportunity for large retailers to streamline transactions and preserve margins in a highly competitive environment.

Governments, under the premise of protecting citizens, have long maintained control over the issuance and regulation of money. By controlling the monetary system, they effectively exert influence over individuals, markets, and even national borders. No government willingly relinquishes the authority to issue money or its equivalents, as doing so would mean surrendering a key lever of economic and political power. Historically, we have seen governments lose control over the flow of information with the rise of the decentralized internet. Likewise, a similar transformation is underway in the world of finance. Human beings fundamentally desire freedom—but that desire is often tempered by fear of loss, which in turn leads them to accept centralized control in exchange for perceived security. Yet over time, the trajectory remains clear: money, like information, is on a path toward decentralization.

As a libertarian, I envision a future where any individual—whether transferring ₹100 or ₹10,000 crore—can move their funds safely, instantly, and globally, without requiring approval from the Reserve Bank of India or navigating bureaucratic forms. Stablecoins, built on blockchain technology, are the first practical tools to make this vision a reality. They offer a frictionless, permissionless, and programmable alternative to the legacy financial system—one that empowers individuals and redefines the boundaries of financial freedom.

 is a technologist and entrepreneur with a deep passion for finance, cryptocurrencies, prediction markets and technology. You can write to him at [email protected]

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