As stablecoins have consolidated as an economic, transparent, and agile alternative to simplify payments and mitigate volatility risks in various sectors. The recent study by Bitso Business, “Stablecoin Ecosystem in Latin America: a guide for global business leaders”, developed by PCMI, highlights how stablecoins are becoming the preferred methods for global value transfers. By eliminating intermediaries, they reduce costs and speed up transactions.
The use of stablecoins has advanced significantly, reaching a market capitalization of US$ 168 billion in October 2024 and moving trillions of dollars annually. The total supply exceeded US$ 150 billion in 2024, and the outlook for 2025 indicates that these coins will continue to enhance functions traditionally attributed to money, such as payments in strategic sectors:
- International remittances: the World Bank estimates that the remittance flow reached US$ 685 billion in 2024, with Latin America representing a significant portion of that amount. However, high costs and delays due to multiple intermediaries are still challenges for financial companies and users. Stablecoins eliminate these barriers, making international transactions more cost-effective and efficient.
- Games and digital entertainment: the gaming industry continues to rapidly expand, projected to reach $321 billion by 2026, according to PwC¹ report. Stablecoins can boost this growth by solving fragmentation issues in payments and compatibility between games, platforms, and suppliers, ensuring fast and transparent transactions integrated into global ecosystems.
- Import and export: sectors reliant on global supplier networks face challenges such as fragmented regulations and payment complexity. Stablecoins emerge as an efficient solution, offering 24/7 availability, instant and secure transactions, reducing fraud, and enhancing supply chain efficiency.
- Expanding companies into Latin America: the Latin American cross-border B2B market, valued at $600 billion, could reach $1.37 trillion by 2030. However, companies entering the region need to tackle challenges such as exchange rate volatility, limited access to banking systems, lack of liquidity, and complex regulations. To assist in this process, they are leveraging stablecoin-based solutions on platforms like Bitso Business to access the Latin American market in a regulated manner and connect to local payment systems.
- Global Payroll: The globalization of the labor market, intensified by the pandemic, has expanded opportunities for professionals to work remotely. However, paying these employees without a local financial institution or connection to payment systems is a challenge. Stablecoins facilitate this process by offering lower fees, increased security, and financial inclusion, eliminating geographical barriers.
Various sectors are realizing the potential of stablecoins to make international payments faster, safer, and more cost-effective. The adoption of these currencies provides competitive advantages, especially in markets that require high efficiency and transparency.
¹ https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/business-model-reinvention/outlook/insights-and-perspectives.html
