A new report from Visa, one of the world’s largest payments networks, indicates that more Americans would consider using stablecoins for international transfers if these digital assets offered bank-level safeguards.
Bank-like protections boost stablecoin appeal
Visa’s Money Travels 2026 report found that willingness to use stablecoins for overseas transactions could rise from 36% to 56% among US consumers if features like fraud protection and deposit insurance were provided.
Stablecoins are digital tokens pegged to stable assets, commonly the US dollar, and aim to minimize the high price volatility seen in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. However, unlike funds held in US bank accounts, stablecoins currently do not offer Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) coverage.
Visa emphasized that the scenario described in its survey is hypothetical and does not signal that FDIC-like protections currently exist or are expected to be implemented soon.
Familiarity remains a key obstacle to widespread adoption. According to the survey, 56% of Americans have never heard of stablecoins, and many wrongly believe these digital assets experience wild price swings similar to Bitcoin.
Consumer trust also depends on the provider. When stablecoins were offered by familiar financial institutions, interest rose to 45%. Approximately 61% of respondents said they would trust a traditional bank, while 60% favored a global payments company for digital currency services. Visa itself operates as a global financial technology firm specializing in payment solutions across the world.
The survey, conducted by the research firm Morning Consult, included 45,445 participants across 20 markets between February 24 and March 2, with 2,192 respondents based in the United States.
Mini dictionary: Morning Consult, an international data intelligence company, regularly conducts opinion surveys and market research for major organizations worldwide.
Global trends and security concerns
The pattern of rising willingness with added protections was not limited to the US. In Latin America, the percentage of people open to using stablecoins for cross-border transfers increased from 34% to 74% when safety features were presented as part of the offering.
Security remains an overriding concern for potential users. Among American remitters, 36% reported having encountered a scam while making cross-border payments. Additionally, 44% expressed concern about the threat posed by AI-generated deepfake scams impersonating relatives.
“Our research shows what matters most to those who rely on that lifeline: trust,” said Vira Platonova, Visa Direct’s global head.
Market growth and technology adoption
Visa has continued to develop the infrastructure needed for stablecoin settlements. The company said its stablecoin settlement volume now exceeds $20 billion annually, representing a steep increase from its $3.5 billion annualized settlement run rate when Visa started settling transactions in USD Coin (USDC) on the Solana network last December. In August, the Visa Direct service expanded to include stablecoin payouts via the crypto platform Zerohash.
BlackRock, one of the world’s largest asset managers, recently estimated that the stablecoin market capitalization broke above $300 billion this month, with more than $11 trillion in adjusted transaction volume last year. The firm also projected that AI-powered agents could support the next phase of growth in the adoption of stablecoins and broader crypto assets.
| Region | Willingness to use stablecoins (current) | With bank-level protections |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 36% | 56% |
| Latin America | 34% | 74% |
