Stablecoin transaction volumes jumped to a record $33 trillion in 2025, driven by favorable U.S. policy and growing institutional adoption. Data shows $USDC leading transaction flows, while $USDT continues to dominate market value.
Record Activity for Stablecoins in Pro- Crypto U.S. Climate
Stablecoin usage surged to new highs in 2025, with transaction volumes climbing 72% year over year to $33 trillion, according to data compiled by Artemis Analytics. The growth was fueled in part by a more supportive regulatory environment in the United States under President Donald Trump’s pro- crypto administration.
$USDC accounted for the largest share of activity, with $18.3 trillion in transactions over the year. Tether’s $USDT followed with $13.3 trillion. Together, the two tokens dominated global stablecoin flows as adoption expanded beyond crypto-native users.
Policy changes played a key role. The passage of the Genius Act in July established a clear legal framework for stablecoins, encouraging broader institutional interest. Companies including Walmart and Amazon have explored stablecoin initiatives, while World Liberty Financial, a Trump family-linked venture, launched its own token, $USD1, in March.
Artemis data also shows a shift in where stablecoins are being used. While overall volumes rose, the share of transactions on decentralized crypto platforms declined, suggesting increased mainstream and real-world usage.
Despite $USDT being the largest stablecoin by market capitalization at $187 billion, $USDC dominates transaction flows due to its heavy use in DeFi. $USDT, by contrast, is more commonly used for payments, business transfers, and as a store of value.
Read more: Trump-Linked World Liberty Financial Seeks National Trust Bank Charter for $USD1 Stablecoin
Growth shows little sign of slowing. Stablecoin transactions reached $11 trillion in the fourth quarter alone, up from $8.8 trillion in the previous quarter. Bloomberg Intelligence estimates total stablecoin payment flows could reach $56 trillion by 2030.
FAQ 💵
• Why did stablecoin transaction volumes surge in 2025?
Pro- crypto U.S. policy and rising institutional adoption pushed annual volumes to a record $33 trillion.
• Which stablecoin led global transaction activity?
$USDC dominated transaction flows with $18.3 trillion, outpacing $USDT in on-chain usage.
• Why does $USDT still lead in market value?
$USDT remains the largest by market cap due to its widespread use in payments and value storage.
• How are stablecoins being used beyond crypto markets?
Growing real-world and institutional use is shifting activity away from DeFi toward mainstream payments.
