Stablecoin interest is rising across Asia Pacific, with 46% of consumers saying they are likely to use stablecoins within the next five years. Visa’s research shows that interest is extending beyond crypto trading into online purchases, travel, overseas shopping and cross-border transfers. However, limited understanding, fraud concerns and trust remain barriers to wider adoption.
Key Overview
- 46% of Asia Pacific consumers are likely to use stablecoins within five years.
- 16% have used stablecoins in the past 12 months.
- 49% believe stablecoins could become a common way to move money across borders.
- 66% are aware of stablecoins, but only 6% accurately understand how they work.
- 38% of aware non-users cite fraud or scam concerns.
- The study surveyed 14,250 consumers across 14 Asia Pacific markets.
Stablecoin Interest Is Rising
Stablecoins are attracting growing interest among consumers across Asia Pacific, even though actual usage remains considerably lower than future intentions.
Visa’s Consumer 360 study found that 46% of consumers across Asia Pacific are likely to use stablecoins within the next five years, compared with 16% who have actually used them during the past 12 months.
The gap suggests that stablecoins could move beyond their traditional association with cryptocurrency trading as consumers become more interested in using them for everyday financial activities.
Consumers Look Beyond Crypto Trading
Interest in stablecoins is increasingly connected to practical payment use cases.
Consumers identified everyday online purchases, travel spending and overseas shopping as potential applications. Cross-border money movement was another significant area of interest, with 49% believing stablecoins could become a common way to move money across borders within five years.
This could create opportunities for stablecoins in areas such as remittances, international transfers and other forms of cross-border payments.
The findings indicate that consumers are beginning to view stablecoins not simply as digital assets for trading, but as a potential payment tool that could fit into existing spending and money-transfer habits.
Awareness Is High, Understanding Is Low
Despite growing interest, consumers’ understanding of stablecoins remains limited.
The research found that 66% of consumers across the region are aware of stablecoins, but only 6% demonstrate an accurate understanding of how they work.
Misconceptions are also widespread. Around 41% believe stablecoins always increase in value, while 49% of consumers who are aware of stablecoins still believe they can only be used to buy or sell other cryptocurrencies.
This knowledge gap could slow adoption if consumers remain uncertain about how stablecoins function, how they are used for payments and what risks they carry.
Trust Remains a Major Barrier
Concerns about security and trust are another challenge for stablecoin adoption.
Among consumers who are aware of stablecoins but have never used them, 38% cite concerns about fraud or scams as a barrier. A further 36% pointed to a lack of understanding.
Consumers also showed a preference for regulated and familiar institutions. Government or central bank-linked entities were identified as the most trusted potential providers by 27% of respondents, followed by banks and regulated financial institutions at 26%.
This suggests that wider adoption may depend not only on improving awareness, but also on providing stablecoin services through institutions consumers already recognise and trust.
Context is everything. Stay ahead of shifting trends with today’s market updates, and uncover emerging opportunities using the Serrari Group Market Index and Marketplace. Then, take control of your own financial future by exploring our Money & Life Reset Transformation Blueprint ™ to build stronger habits, create better systems, and design a path toward lasting wealth.
India and Vietnam Show Strong Intent
Stablecoin interest varies considerably across Asia Pacific markets.
India and Vietnam recorded the strongest intended use, with 67% of consumers in each market saying they were likely to use stablecoins within the next five years.
Awareness was strongest in Hong Kong at 84%, followed by India at 80% and Thailand at 77%.
The differences indicate that stablecoin adoption could develop at different speeds across the region, depending on consumer awareness, trust, regulation and the availability of practical use cases.
Study Covers 14 Asia Pacific Markets
The Visa Consumer 360 study surveyed 14,250 consumers across 14 Asia Pacific markets between June and July 2026.
The markets covered Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, India, Australia and New Zealand.
The research therefore provides a broad regional view of consumer attitudes rather than focusing on a single country’s crypto market.
From Interest to Everyday Payments
The findings suggest that the next stage of stablecoin development in Asia Pacific could depend on whether consumers can move from interest to practical usage.
Visa is working with banks, regulated financial institutions and payment partners to connect stablecoin capabilities with familiar payment experiences.
For consumers, easier access, clearer explanations and trusted providers could help address some of the barriers identified in the research. For financial institutions, the results point to potential demand for stablecoin-enabled payment services beyond traditional cryptocurrency trading.
Outlook
Stablecoins are gaining consumer attention across Asia Pacific, but the research shows a clear difference between interest and actual use. While 46% of consumers say they are likely to use stablecoins within five years, only 16% reported using them during the previous 12 months.
The strongest potential use cases are increasingly tied to everyday financial activity, particularly online purchases, travel and cross-border money movement. However, limited understanding and concerns about fraud remain significant obstacles.
The next phase of adoption could therefore depend on whether financial institutions and payment providers can make stablecoins easier to understand, more familiar to consumers and available through trusted, regulated channels.
FAQs
1. How many Asia Pacific consumers may use stablecoins within five years?
46% of surveyed consumers said they are likely to use stablecoins within the next five years.
2. How many consumers have already used stablecoins?
16% said they had used stablecoins during the previous 12 months.
3. What are the main potential uses for stablecoins?
Consumers identified online purchases, travel spending, overseas shopping and cross-border money movement as potential uses.
4. What is limiting stablecoin adoption?
Limited understanding, fraud and scam concerns, and trust issues remain major barriers.
Sources: The Cryptonomist | The Digital Banker | PR Newswire
Your financial future isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you build.
The real question is: when do you begin?
Move beyond simply staying informed.
Navigate the markets with clarity—track trends through the Serrari Group Market Index, uncover opportunities in the Serrari Marketplace, and build practical knowledge with our Curated Wealth Builder Platform.
Stay connected to what truly matters.
Get daily insights on macro trends and financial movements across Kenya, Africa, and global markets—delivered through the Serrari Newsletter.
Growth opens doors.
Advance your career through professional programs including ACCA, HESI A2, ATI TEAS 7 , HESI EXIT , NCLEX – RN and NCLEX – PN, Financial Literacy!🌟—designed to move you forward with confidence.
See where money is flowing—clearly and in real time.
Track Money Market Funds, Treasury Bills, Treasury Bonds, Green Bonds, and Fixed Deposits, alongside global and African indexes, key economic indicators, and the evolving Crypto and stablecoin landscape—all within Serrari’s Market Index.
