Survey finds stablecoins used as everyday money

The global stablecoin market now exceeds $300 billion, and regulated dollar-pegged coins are increasingly used for cross-border payments and settlement, according to a recent Circle policy submission.

A new survey from payments infrastructure firm BVNK argues that a larger share of that supply is starting to behave like money, not just trading collateral. BVNK’s Stablecoin Utility Report 2026, based on research run by YouGov, surveyed 4,658 adults across 15 countries. Fieldwork took place online in September and October 2025 among people who currently hold crypto, held it in the past 12 months, or plan to acquire it in the next 12 months. The project was conducted with partners Coinbase and Artemis, according to BVNK’s release.

The clearest signal is income. BVNK says 39% of respondents receive income in stablecoins, including salaries, freelance payments, and cross-border work. Among those paid in stablecoins, respondents said the coins represent about 35% of annual earnings. Three-quarters said stablecoin pay improved their ability to do business internationally, and 76% of marketplace sellers reported higher sales volumes. BVNK also cited average fee savings of 40% versus traditional remittance methods.

Spending is becoming more common, but it is still constrained by acceptance. BVNK found that 27% of stablecoin holders use them for everyday payments and keep about $200 in stablecoins for that purpose. More than half of crypto holders, 52%, said they bought something specifically because a merchant accepted stablecoins, rising to 60% in emerging markets.

The survey also hints at what needs to change next. Respondents cited lower fees (30%), security (28%), and global access (27%) as the main reasons to pay with stablecoins, but spending opportunities lag demand. BVNK says 42% want to use crypto and stablecoins for major or lifestyle purchases, while only 28% currently do.

Distribution, not ideology, looks like the gating factor. BVNK found that 77% would open a stablecoin wallet if their primary bank or fintech app offered one, and 71% are interested in a linked debit card for stablecoin spending. The regional split reinforces the dual use case. In emerging markets, 60% of crypto-native respondents held stablecoins, reaching 79% in Africa. In high-income economies, 45% held stablecoins, with higher average balances around $1,000 versus about $85 in emerging markets.

Taken together, the report suggests stablecoin supply growth is only the first step. The next leg depends on retail acceptance, bank-grade user experience, and protections that make onchain dollars feel as familiar as existing payment rails.