Cybrid, a blockchain infrastructure firm, surveyed businesses across multiple jurisdictions and found that 42% already use stablecoins to move money across borders. The figure undercuts a common assumption that corporate adoption remains theoretical. Most respondents said they expect to increase stablecoin use in the next year.
Regulatory clarity emerged as the single largest barrier to growth. Businesses cited uncertainty over how stablecoins fit into existing anti-money-laundering frameworks, capital controls, and banking regulations. This finding maps onto real policy friction: the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) took effect in June 2024 with stringent stablecoin issuer rules; Japan has pursued licensing regimes for stablecoin operators; the US Congress has cycled through competing stablecoin bills without landing on federal standards.
The survey did not disclose which regions or country groupings it covered, making it difficult to assess whether the 42% figure reflects concentrated adoption in crypto-friendly zones (Singapore, Dubai, El Salvador) or more even distribution across regulated markets. Cybrid's own customer base skews toward fintech and Web3 firms, which could inflate the baseline. The newsroom contacted Cybrid for clarification and did not receive a response by publication time.
What the data does suggest is that demand from corporate treasurers and payment operators already exists. If regulatory frameworks converge on clearer rules for stablecoin transfers, the ceiling for adoption could shift upward. MiCA's implementation and the outcome of US legislative efforts will likely set the pace for 2025.
The barrier is not technical or economic. It is policy. Businesses have the tools. They lack legal cover.