According to a recent Chainalysis report, stablecoins might see an annual trading volume of up to $1.5 quadrillion by 2035, surpassing traditional payment networks. The blockchain analytics firm anticipates that stablecoin trading volumes could reach $719 trillion based on current growth trends alone. However, the potential for this figure to more than double exists due to possible macroeconomic changes.
Chainalysis bases its projections on two transformative shifts beyond existing adoption rates: a massive intergenerational wealth transfer from 2028 to 2048 involving an estimated $100 trillion moving from Boomers to younger generations, who are much more inclined towards crypto. Data from a 2025 Gemini survey cited in the report shows nearly half of Millennials and Gen Z have engaged with cryptocurrencies.
This generational shift could contribute approximately $508 trillion to annual stablecoin transaction volumes by 2035. Additionally, point-of-sale integration is identified as another major catalyst, potentially adding another $232 trillion annually as stablecoins become more integrated into everyday commerce.
The report also notes accelerating regulatory developments, citing the GENIUS Act signed by President Donald Trump last summer as evidence that U.S. policymakers are giving serious consideration to stablecoin infrastructure.
Traditional financial giants are already preparing for this shift. Stripe’s $1.1 billion acquisition of Bridge and Mastercard’s recent purchase of BVNK, valued at up to $1.8 billion, demonstrate that established payment processors view stablecoins as an inevitable part of the future infrastructure, according to Chainalysis.
These strategic moves support the forecasted timeline for mainstream adoption, with payment companies actively building the necessary systems now to accommodate what could become the dominant form of value transfer within a decade.
Current data reinforces these projections. Stablecoins processed $28 trillion in real economic volume in 2025, according to Chainalysis, with adjusted volumes growing at a 133% compound annual rate since 2023. At this growth pace, stablecoin payment volumes could match the combined off-chain transaction volumes of Visa and Mastercard between 2031 and 2039.
“For incumbents, the calculus is becoming straightforward,” states Chainalysis. “The blockchain has become the essential infrastructure for the next era of global payments. Institutions that adapt to this reality now will shape it, while those that delay may end up handling transactions on others’ platforms.”