Tech Titans Revolt: Apple, X, and Airbnb Eye Stablecoin Payments to Slash Card Fees
Big Tech's plotting a financial coup—stablecoins may soon bypass Visa and Mastercard's iron grip.
Onchain settlements could save billions in fees—Wall Street's favorite middlemen just got a target on their backs.
One cynic's take: Banks won't go down without a fight—expect 'innovation theater' from legacy players scrambling to stay relevant.
Tech Giants Experiment with New Settlement Options
According to Fortune, Stripe, Worldpay, and other processors have been approached to provide back-end support for stablecoin settlements.
Airbnb has held internal discussions with Worldpay about the feasibility of such integrations, while X is exploring adding stablecoin functionality to its payments app, X Money, through potential collaboration with Stripe.
A crypto firm executive quoted in the report said firms are assessing the risk profile of different stablecoins before making integration decisions. Tether’s compliance record and USDC’s evolving corporate structure were noted as factors influencing deliberations.
“[Stablecoins] are this old idea, but finally I think we’ve got the right pieces coming together such that it’s really coming into fruition,” said Haun Ventures partner Chris Ahn.
@Circle the company behind the USDC stablecoin, made a dramatic entrance on the NYSE with its shares surging as much as 160% during its trading debut. #Circle #NYSE https://t.co/EJQJ4Yy3m3
Google Cloud has already accepted stablecoin payments from select clients using PayPal’s PYUSD, according to comments from Rich Widmann, head of Web3 strategy at Google Cloud. He stated that invoices and accounting processes remained unchanged, with only the settlement currency modified.
“It’s pretty clear that this is probably one of the biggest upgrades to payments since the SWIFT network,” said Widmann. “There isn’t a separate offshoot for stablecoin payments within Cloud.”
Stablecoin Adoption Advances Alongside CBDC Efforts
The report added that the interest among Big Tech coincides with recent policy shifts in Washington under the TRUMP administration, which has directed agencies to ease oversight of digital assets. Tech executives cited Stripe’s acquisition of stablecoin firm Bridge as a turning point for enterprise adoption discussions.
While Big Tech firms explore stablecoin use for efficiency, some governments are pushing their own digital currency models. This parallel development could shape how private and public systems interact in global payments.
Enterprise interest in stablecoins reveals a steady trend of changing corporate treasury strategies. Instead of holding excess reserves in fiat, some firms are evaluating on-chain assets to optimize liquidity and settlement across borders.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How might stablecoin integration affect existing payment processors like Visa and Mastercard?If stablecoins offer cheaper and faster settlements, companies could reduce reliance on traditional card networks, potentially cutting into processing fees and changing the competitive landscape for legacy providers.
Why are firms cautious about which stablecoin to adopt?Stablecoins differ in legal structure, reserve transparency, and issuer credibility. Tether faces ongoing scrutiny over its reserve audits, while USDC’s ownership changes may impact long-term trust and stability.
Could Big Tech companies eventually issue their own stablecoins?Yes, but legislative proposals in the U.S. have sought to limit non-financial institutions from issuing digital currencies, meaning in-house stablecoins could face heightened regulatory barriers.
