FINANCIAL STRATEGY
Payment providers bet on stablecoins to challenge card networks Stablecoins hold their value against traditional currencies and settle transactions in minutes or seconds, depending on which network processes them. Cross-border payments expose the advantage most clearly: traditional banking systems route money through multiple correspondent banks, adding days to settlement times and fees at each step. Payment providers have started building stablecoin capabilities into their platforms. Equals Money partnered with Railsr to add stablecoin functionality, while BVNK has rolled out services that let businesses accept stablecoin payments. These companies are betting that merchants will choose blockchain-based settlement over card networks if the cost difference is significant enough. USDC, the stablecoin issued by Circle, backs each token with cash and shortterm government securities, maintaining a one-to-one ratio with the US dollar. Payment providers use USDC and similar tokens to move money between parties without touching traditional banking infrastructure, which means fewer intermediaries taking cuts and faster settlement times. Klarna says it will announce more cryptocurrency partnerships as it builds out its digital asset strategy. The company processes payments across e-commerce platforms including
76 July 2026