Stablecoins have evolved from trading tools and savings vehicles into core payments infrastructure. Regulatory clarity boosted issuance, transaction velocity has doubled, and consumer-to-business use is surging. Non-USD variants and intra-country transfers now outpace purely cross-border flows.

The article shows how stablecoins and public blockchains cut the unit cost of payments and compliance, driving more global adoption instead of displacing existing systems. It argues that shared ledgers collapse reconciliation and regulatory burdens, unlocking new markets and users much like cheaper steam engines boosted coal demand.

This article discusses how stablecoins are becoming mainstream for online and international payments, drawing parallels to the impact of WhatsApp on messaging costs. It explores the potential for stablecoins to transform financial transactions and reinforce the dollar's dominance in the global economy.