Coinbase Shakes Up Payments: New Crypto Checkout Lets Merchants Grab USDC in Seconds
Coinbase just flipped the script on crypto payments—launching a checkout system that slashes settlement times to near-zero for USDC transactions. Merchants can now bypass traditional banking delays and grab stablecoins instantly. No more waiting days for funds to clear while banks pocket float profits.
The move pressures legacy payment rails as crypto infrastructure matures. With volatility fears fading, stablecoins are becoming the go-to for borderless commerce. Coinbase's play? Capture the exploding merchant demand before PayPal or Stripe wake up.
One catch: tax headaches still loom for businesses diving in. But when settlement happens at blockchain speed, who's counting—besides the IRS?
Merchants Gain Global Access to USDC Payments
The integration allows merchants to receive near-instant, low-cost payments in Circle’s USDC from customers across the globe.
Notably, the system functions 24/7, sidestepping delays tied to traditional banking hours.
Coinbase Payments is designed as a three-layer solution. At the front end, the Stablecoin Checkout interface supports hundreds of wallets, including MetaMask, Phantom, and Coinbase Wallet.
The gasless flow eliminates transaction fee calculations, a common barrier for new crypto users.
Underneath, the E-commerce Engine handles merchant functions, like subscriptions and refunds, by translating them into standardized blockchain-compatible actions via API.
The final layer, Commerce Payments Protocol, acts as an onchain escrow and settlement system.
Drawing from traditional e-commerce logic, the open-source protocol supports features like delayed capture and programmable settlement.
Transactions benefit from Base’s rapid confirmation times, making blockchain settlement feel as seamless as credit card processing.
In practice, when a Shopify user selects USDC at checkout, the Coinbase interface routes the transaction while Shopify verifies it through the provided API.
$COIN JUST LAUNCHED COINBASE PAYMENTS
USDC stack for $SHOP & commerce platforms — instant, 24/7 settlement with no blockchain friction.$PYPL dipping on the news. pic.twitter.com/nwUKFB1bTk
Funds are then held in smart contract escrow until order fulfillment, reducing chargeback risk and giving merchants immediate visibility into payment status.
Coinbase’s new platform removes much of the technical burden historically tied to accepting digital assets. Merchants no longer need to manage private keys or build bespoke crypto payment flows.
The stack also includes fiat offramps, offering businesses hybrid finance options while maintaining onchain transparency and auditability.
The MOVE comes as stablecoins gain momentum in institutional circles. With over $30 trillion settled via stablecoins in the past year, interest in using them as a payment rail is growing.
However, ecommerce adoption has been hampered by infrastructure gaps and compliance concerns.
By embedding its tools directly into mainstream platforms like Shopify, Coinbase is positioning USDC as a settlement bridge between traditional and decentralized finance.
US Senate Passes GENIUS Act to Regulate Stablecoins
The US Senate has approved the GENIUS Act with a 68–30 vote, making it the first piece of federal legislation aimed specifically at regulating digital assets.
The bill, which received bipartisan backing, lays out clear rules for stablecoins, including reserve requirements and a shared regulatory role between state and federal agencies.
A huge step forward. Read Stand With Crypto’s statement on today’s Senate vote to advance the GENIUS Act
pic.twitter.com/AQFFS2f9Yc
The move is being seen as a critical milestone by crypto industry leaders, who say the lack of regulatory clarity has long hindered stablecoin adoption in traditional finance.
The GENIUS Act arrives amid explosive growth in the stablecoin market, which expanded from under $10 billion to $239 billion in just five years.
