The B2B (business-to-business) payments market today exceeds 100 trillion dollars every year, but it still relies on traditional tools such as checks and bank transfers, which are often expensive and slow.
According to a recent report by S&P Global Market Intelligence, this outdated infrastructure is about to be revolutionized by the advent of stablecoins, digital assets that promise almost instant and low-cost settlement.
Stablecoins: a new infrastructure for payments
Stablecoins are digital currencies pegged to a stable asset, such as the dollar, and are rapidly gaining ground as an alternative for international payments, global payroll, and liquidity management between companies.
Currently, the value of stablecoins in circulation amounts to 269 billion dollars, with projected growth to 434 billion by 2028, thanks to the commitment of providers and infrastructure partners who are expanding technical capabilities and seeking regulatory clarity.
International payments: the main use case
The S&P Global Market Intelligence report highlights how payments to cross-border suppliers represent the main use case for stablecoins in the B2B sector. Traditional international transactions suffer from delays, opaque fees, and friction due to multiple intermediaries.
Stablecoins, on the other hand, offer on-chain transparency, almost instant settlement, and lower costs, while also reducing the risk of currency volatility.
Providers such as Sokin, dLocal, Convera (in collaboration with Ripple) and OpenFX are already integrating stablecoins into their platforms, combining traditional accounts and digital wallets to offer hybrid and innovative solutions.
Global payments and salaries: a turning point for workers and companies
Another high-potential segment is global payments of salaries and compensation to contractors. Companies that pay staff or freelancers in different countries often have to deal with settlement times of several days and uncertainties related to exchange rates.
Stablecoins enable payments 24/7, 365 days a year, with lower fees and the possibility for recipients to hold, spend, or immediately convert the digital currency into local money.
Companies such as Rise, Bitwage, Remote, Visa, Mastercard, Episode Six, Stripe and Worldpay are already adopting stablecoin-based payment solutions, also integrating linked cards to simplify access to funds for employees and gig workers.
Liquidity and treasury management: efficiency for large enterprises
Stablecoins are also finding application in treasury management and intercompany settlement. Large enterprises, often structured into multiple entities and currencies, face complex challenges related to transfers, reconciliation, and liquidity optimization. Stablecoins enable instant, low-cost transfers, reconciliation on shared ledgers, and more efficient liquidity management.
Concrete examples include Trovata, which collaborates with Paxos (USDP), SpaceX, which uses stablecoins to hedge exchange-rate risk, and Siemens, which leverages JPM Coin to automate international liquidity movements and internal financing.
A rapidly evolving ecosystem
Payment service providers and infrastructure companies are building a layered ecosystem for stablecoins, combining digital wallets, custody services, orchestration tools, and compliance solutions to reduce implementation complexity for businesses.
Many B2B operators collaborate with infrastructure specialists such as Bridge (Stripe), BVNK, Fireblocks and Zero Hash, or develop their own platforms in-house.
The challenge of regulation
The large-scale spread of stablecoins in B2B payments will depend largely on regulatory clarity and the strength of partnerships between providers and financial institutions. Regulation will define how stablecoins can integrate with existing banking and payment networks, influencing the pace and scope of adoption.
Future outlook
The S&P Global Market Intelligence report emphasizes that the sector is in full evolution, with significant growth expected in the coming years. The adoption of stablecoins promises to drastically reduce costs, speed up settlement times, and improve transparency for companies operating globally.
However, the real breakthrough will only come when the regulatory framework is defined and partnerships between providers and infrastructures are mature.
Stablecoins are thus positioning themselves to become the backbone of future B2B payments, offering a modern solution to a 100-trillion-dollar market that, until now, has remained anchored to systems of the past.
