Meta Plans Stablecoin Launch by 2026, Partners with Stripe for Payments Infrastructure
Meta is preparing to enter the stablecoin market by the second half of 2026, according to sources familiar with the plans. The social media giant has reached out to external firms for assistance in developing a payments system using existing stablecoins and creating a new digital wallet. Stripe emerges as the likely primary partner, leveraging its $1.1 billion acquisition of stablecoin company Bridge and existing collaboration with Meta.
The approach marks a strategic shift from Meta's failed Libra project. Instead of creating a proprietary token, Meta will utilize partner-backed stablecoins—a MOVE that provides regulatory distance while still enabling low-cost transactions for billions of users. This positions Meta against Elon Musk's X and Telegram, both vying to become super apps with integrated payment solutions.
The initiative echoes Libra's original ambitions for WhatsApp and Instagram commerce, though that project collapsed in 2022 under regulatory scrutiny. Meta's renewed push comes as stablecoins gain mainstream traction, offering an alternative to traditional banking infrastructure and its associated fees.
