10-14-2026 
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
TL:DR: A survey conducted by Visa involving 14,250 consumers in the Asia-Pacific region reveals that 46% expect to use stablecoins within five years. However, only 6% of respondents actually understand what stablecoins are. Scams and confusion are significant barriers to adoption, and consumers express a greater trust in governments and banks.
Key Takeaways:
- Interest in stablecoins is high, with 46% of Asia-Pacific respondents likely to use them within five years, but only 16% used them in the past 12 months.
- Almost half of consumers aware of stablecoins (49%) mistakenly believe they are only for trading other cryptocurrencies.
- Awareness far outpaces understanding, as 66% have heard of stablecoins while only 6% accurately understand how they work.
For someone sending money to family overseas, the priorities are straightforward: what it costs, when it arrives, and whether it gets there safely. A new payment option has to earn that trust before it becomes part of daily life.
Stablecoins are attracting interest across the Asia-Pacific, according to Visa’s (NASDAQ: V) latest Consumer 360 study. But the findings reveal a difficult starting point for banks and fintech companies hoping to bring them into everyday payments: many consumers recognize the name, while few understand what they would be using.
Released on October 5, the Visa-commissioned research surveyed 14,250 consumers aged 18 to 65 across 14 markets, including the Philippines. Fieldwork took place between June and July 2026.
Across the region, 46% of respondents said they were likely to use stablecoins within the next five years, compared with 16% who had used them in the past 12 months. Interest includes online purchases, travel spending, and overseas shopping.
That suggests room for use beyond crypto trading. It does not mean those consumers will necessarily adopt stablecoins.
Cross-border payments stand out: 49% believe stablecoins could become a common way to move money across borders within five years. For businesses building remittance services or international payment tools, that signals consumer interest worth examining.
The harder question is how much consumers understand.
While 66% of respondents had heard of stablecoins, only 6% showed an accurate understanding of how they work. Meanwhile, 41% believed stablecoins always increase in value.
Stablecoins are digital currencies used on blockchain networks and designed to maintain a stable value, typically by tracking an asset such as a fiat currency. That design differs from the price appreciation consumers might associate with cryptocurrency investing.
Another misconception limits how people see their usefulness. Among consumers aware of stablecoins, 49% believed they could only be used to buy and sell other cryptocurrencies.
These misunderstandings matter for product design. Someone expecting an asset to keep rising in price approaches it differently from someone choosing a way to pay a supplier or send money home.
“We’re seeing a meaningful shift in how consumers across Asia Pacific think about stablecoins,” said Nischint Sanghavi, Visa’s head of digital currencies for Asia-Pacific.
The study also shows where that interest is strongest. Awareness was highest in Hong Kong at 84%, followed by India at 80% and Thailand at 77%. Vietnam and India are leading in future intent, with 67% in each market saying they were likely to use stablecoins within five years.
Still, curiosity has limits.
Among respondents who knew about stablecoins but had never used them, 38% cited concerns about fraud or scams, while 36% pointed to a lack of understanding. Government or central bank-linked entities ranked as the most trusted potential providers at 27%, followed by banks or regulated financial institutions at 26%.
Visa says it is working with banks and payment partners on stablecoin-enabled services, including a platform to help clients mint, move and manage stablecoins.
For the wider industry, the findings suggest that explaining the product is part of building it. Consumers need to understand what they hold, how they can use it and who they can turn to when something goes wrong.
A payment tool earns its place through repeated use. For stablecoins, the test will be whether that first transfer gives people enough confidence to make a second.
FAQs:
What exactly is a stablecoin?
Stablecoins are digital currencies used on blockchain networks and designed to maintain a stable value, typically by tracking an asset such as a fiat currency. This differs from the price appreciation consumers might associate with cryptocurrency investing.
Which markets show the most awareness and interest in stablecoins?
Awareness was highest in Hong Kong at 84%, followed by India at 80% and Thailand at 77%. Vietnam and India led in future intent, with 67% in each market saying they were likely to use stablecoins within five years.
Are stablecoins seen as useful for cross-border payments?
Yes. 49% of respondents believe stablecoins could become a common way to move money across borders within five years, which signals consumer interest for businesses building remittance services or international payment tools.
How was the study conducted, and what is Visa doing about stablecoins?
The Visa-commissioned research, released on October 5, surveyed 14,250 consumers aged 18 to 65 across 14 markets, including the Philippines, with fieldwork between June and July 2026. Visa says it is working with banks and payment partners on stablecoin-enabled services, including a platform to help clients mint, move, and manage stablecoins.
Watch: Blockchain revolution in big banks
