Thomas Goldstein

Thomas Goldstein is a seasoned crypto journalist, with over eight years of experience. He primarily covers Bitcoin and Ethereum market news, price analysis, and GameFi.

Bitcoin ETFs Extend Inflow Streak As Institutional Demand Resurges, With $570mn of Capital

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US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds have recorded a second consecutive week of net inflows, signaling a renewed wave of investor demand after a prolonged stretch dominated by withdrawals and cautious sentiment.

Data compiled by SoSoValue indicates that spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted approximately $568.45 million in fresh capital during the latest week, continuing the recovery that began with $787.31 million in inflows the week before.

The back-to-back positive weeks mark the first time the funds have achieved consecutive gains in roughly five months, suggesting investor appetite is returning after a difficult period for digital asset investment vehicles.

Prior to the recent turnaround, the funds had endured a five-week streak of consistent redemptions that resulted in cumulative outflows totaling around $3.8 billion across the sector.

The heaviest weekly withdrawals occurred during the period ending January 30, when investors collectively removed about $1.49 billion from spot Bitcoin ETFs as market uncertainty intensified.

Volatile Daily Flows During The Week

Although the weekly totals ultimately showed strong inflows, the daily performance across the week revealed fluctuating investor sentiment and intermittent profit-taking as markets reacted to shifting price dynamics.

Monday began with strong demand as the funds collectively attracted $458.19 million in inflows, reflecting renewed institutional interest and optimism surrounding the broader cryptocurrency market outlook.

The positive momentum continued into Tuesday, when spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded an additional $225.15 million in inflows as investors maintained confidence following the previous week’s encouraging performance.

Midweek trading delivered the largest inflow of the period, with $461.77 million entering the funds on Wednesday as market participants increased exposure to Bitcoin through regulated investment vehicles.

However, sentiment shifted toward the end of the week, with Thursday seeing net outflows of $227.83 million before withdrawals accelerated further on Friday with $348.83 million exiting the products.

Ether ETFs Also Register Consecutive Weekly Gains

Spot Ether exchange-traded funds in the United States mirrored the broader recovery trend, recording their second straight week of net inflows after several weeks of persistent investor withdrawals earlier this year.

The funds attracted approximately $23.56 million in new capital during the latest reporting week, following an earlier inflow of about $80.46 million during the preceding week.

These gains represent the first instance of consecutive positive weeks for US spot Ether ETFs since early October of last year, highlighting improving sentiment toward Ethereum-related investment products.

Before this recovery period began, Ether ETFs had experienced a five-week stretch of withdrawals that collectively removed more than $1.38 billion from the funds.

The most severe week during that downturn occurred in late January, when investors withdrew roughly $611 million as cryptocurrency markets faced heightened volatility and declining prices.

Bitcoin ETFs Rapidly Closing Gap With Gold Funds

The broader trajectory of Bitcoin ETF adoption has also attracted attention among industry observers who are comparing the pace of inflows with those seen historically in traditional commodity investment vehicles.

Fernando Nikolić, Blockstream’s director of marketing, highlighted in a post on X that spot Bitcoin ETFs have already matched approximately fifteen years of cumulative inflows recorded by gold ETFs.

Remarkably, that milestone has been reached in less than two years despite gold funds having a significant advantage in terms of time and maturity within the exchange-traded fund market.

Nikolić also noted that the achievement occurred during a period when Bitcoin experienced a drawdown of roughly forty-six percent and endured several months of negative price performance.

“Anyone still arguing about whether bitcoin is ‘digital gold’ is wasting their breath,” he wrote. “Bitcoin isn’t trying to be gold. Bitcoin is making gold look slow,” he added.

US Spot Bitcoin ETFs See Outflows As Institutional Positions Shift

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U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded $104.9 million in net outflows during Tuesday’s trading session, marking a weak start to the week for the sector.

Total trading volume dropped to just above $3 billion, representing a dramatic fall from the February 5 record of $14.7 billion and indicating cooling market participation.

The decline coincided with institutional disclosures of fourth-quarter holdings, revealing significant reallocations among major investment firms and hedge funds.

Market observers say the data suggests consolidation rather than panic selling, with investors adjusting positions following earlier strong inflows into crypto-linked products.

New Institutional Buyers Emerge

Jane Street ranked as the second-largest purchaser of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin ETF in the fourth quarter, adding approximately $276 million worth of shares.

A previously unknown Hong Kong-based firm called Laurore also appeared in filings, acquiring $436.2 million of the ETF in a single reported purchase.

According to Bitwise adviser Jeff Park, the mysterious entity could represent early signs of Chinese institutional capital entering regulated Bitcoin markets.

Park noted the company lacks a public presence and identified the filer name Zhang Hui as extremely common, increasing speculation surrounding the investment’s origin.

Major Investors Adjust Exposure

Several funds increased allocations, including Weiss Asset Management and 59 North Capital, while Abu Dhabi sovereign investor Mubadala raised holdings by forty-five percent to roughly $630.7 million.

Conversely, Brevan Howard cut its exposure dramatically, reducing its position from about $2.4 billion to roughly $273.5 million during the same reporting period.

Goldman Sachs also trimmed its holdings by approximately forty percent, leaving close to $1 billion invested in the product after the adjustment.

Analysts interpret the mixed activity as portfolio rebalancing rather than loss of confidence, reflecting maturing institutional strategies around Bitcoin allocation.

Strategy Surpasses 700,000 BTC Holdings with Latest Purchase Despite Bitcoin Decline

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Michael Saylor’s Strategy, the largest public Bitcoin holder globally, has increased its holdings past 700,000 BTC following a major purchase.

The company acquired 22,305 Bitcoin for $2.13 billion last week, according to filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

The purchase price averaged $95,284 per BTC, with Bitcoin briefly climbing above $97,000 midweek.

This acquisition pushed Strategy’s total Bitcoin holdings to 709,715 BTC, purchased at a total of around $53.92 billion with an average cost of $75,979 per coin.

Largest Purchase Since February 2025

The latest purchase marks the company’s largest single acquisition since February 2025, when it bought 20,356 BTC for approximately $2 billion.

Earlier this month, on January 12, Strategy announced a smaller purchase of 13,627 BTC worth $1.3 billion, which had been its biggest acquisition since July of the previous year.

The acceleration in Bitcoin buying highlights Strategy’s ongoing commitment to expanding its digital treasury holdings.

Market Impact

Strategy’s stock (MSTR) experienced gains alongside Bitcoin’s recent price movement, rising past $185 amid a multi-month high for the cryptocurrency.

The momentum followed a decision by Morgan Stanley Capital International not to exclude digital treasury companies from its market index in early January, adding further investor confidence.

With Strategy continuing its accumulation strategy, market observers are watching closely for potential ripple effects on Bitcoin’s broader market sentiment.

This latest acquisition reinforces the company’s status as the world’s largest institutional Bitcoin holder and signals its long-term conviction in the asset class.

Bitcoin Price Nears Critical Level As Technical Signals Turn Bullish Despite Weak Setup

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Bitcoin has traded firmly above its opening price for the year, gaining roughly 9.5% and consolidating near the $95,000 level as traders assess its next directional move.

Market participants increasingly view the short-term trend as positive, with price action approaching a key technical barrier closely watched by analysts.

Focus Turns To Short-Term Holder Cost Basis

Bitcoin’s ability to reclaim six-figure territory depends on overcoming resistance near $98,000, which aligns with the short-term holder cost basis.

This level represents the average acquisition price of recent buyers and is often viewed as a threshold for renewed upside momentum.

“$BTC is approaching a key inflexion point,” said Glassnode analyst Chris Beamish in a Friday post on X.

“Reclaiming the STH cost basis would signal that recent buyers are back in profit, typically a prerequisite for momentum to re-accelerate,” he added.

Analysts See Broader Trend Support

MN Capital founder Michael van de Poppe said the broader trend remains constructive as long as Bitcoin holds above its 21-day moving average near $91,200.

He said maintaining that level would likely set the stage for an eventual move beyond $100,000.

Another analyst known as Mags highlighted Bitcoin’s bounce from a long-term trendline that has held since March 2023.

“Bitcoin is bouncing from the long-term trendline support it has been holding since March 2023,” Mags said.

“Each time the price has bounced from this support, we have witnessed a strong run-up,” the analyst added.

Historical Context Strengthens Bullish Case

The last significant bounce from this trendline occurred in October 2023, preceding a 172% rally that carried Bitcoin to a previous record high in March 2024.

That historical performance has strengthened expectations that the current consolidation phase could resolve to the upside.

Analysts also point to whale accumulation, steady institutional demand, and improving onchain metrics as supportive factors.

Ascending Triangle Points Higher

From a chart perspective, Bitcoin is retesting the upper boundary of an ascending triangle formation on the daily timeframe.

Resistance remains concentrated between $96,000 and $99,500, corresponding to the 100-day and 200-day exponential moving averages.

A confirmed breakout would imply a measured move toward roughly $113,200, based on the height of the pattern.

“Bitcoin is consolidating in an ascending triangle along with confirmed weekly hidden bullish divergence,” said analyst Matthew Hyland.

“Price goes up,” he added.

Momentum Indicators Remain Constructive

The relative strength index has climbed to 64 after emerging from oversold conditions late last year, suggesting strengthening momentum without immediate overheating risks.

“There’s definitely a good amount of room to move higher for now,” said analyst Daan Crypto Trades.

“Just need the bulls to hold the lower timeframe bullish market structures,” he added.

Crypto and Blockchain Poised for Innovative Year Amid US Regulatory Clarity

Blockchain technology in 2026 is entering a phase of maturity that goes far beyond speculation and hype. After years of regulatory uncertainty in the United States, lawmakers and federal agencies have moved decisively to clarify rules, creating a framework that allows blockchain innovation to coexist with investor protections and financial oversight.

This regulatory clarity is reshaping the way developers, investors, and institutions approach blockchain, shifting the focus from short-term gains to sustainable growth and compliance-driven adoption.

One of the most significant developments this year has been the full implementation of federal rules governing stablecoins. Dollar-backed digital tokens are now subject to rigorous reserve requirements, disclosure obligations, and regular audits. This has elevated stablecoins from niche digital assets into trusted instruments for payments, cross-border transactions, and corporate treasury management. Banks, fintech companies, and licensed issuers are increasingly entering this space, viewing regulated stablecoins as tools for faster settlement, programmable money, and more transparent financial operations. The emphasis is now on reliability, transparency, and accountability rather than pure innovation at any cost.

Alongside stablecoin oversight, U.S. regulators have clarified how different agencies oversee digital assets. Tokens are classified based on economic function rather than purely technological characteristics, reducing years of confusion over which assets fall under the jurisdiction of the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

This has encouraged institutional participation, with asset managers, insurers, and pension funds exploring tokenized securities, digital derivatives, and other blockchain-based financial products. The clearer legal framework has increased confidence among investors, supporting long-term projects and infrastructure development rather than speculative activity.

Enterprise blockchain adoption is also accelerating. Corporations are implementing distributed ledger systems to enhance supply chain transparency, improve trade finance operations, verify identities, and reconcile complex data streams.

Permissioned blockchains that interoperate with public networks are becoming standard in sectors where operational efficiency and security are paramount. The focus has shifted from decentralization ideology to tangible business benefits, demonstrating that blockchain can serve as practical infrastructure rather than a purely experimental technology.

Decentralized finance is adapting as well. DeFi platforms now integrate compliance layers, identity verification, and jurisdictional controls to remain accessible to U.S. users and institutional participants. These adjustments have enabled regulated entities to engage with on-chain lending, liquidity provision, and derivatives trading. DeFi in 2026 increasingly resembles a hybrid financial system, bridging traditional finance and blockchain innovations while remaining within regulatory boundaries. The industry is moving toward measured, long-term integration rather than unrestrained experimentation.

Technical advancements continue alongside regulatory progress. Layer-two networks, improved smart contract security, and user-friendly wallet designs have reduced transaction costs and complexity. Features like account abstraction and enhanced recovery mechanisms have made blockchain applications more accessible to non-technical users. Interoperability between networks has improved, allowing assets and data to move seamlessly across chains without sacrificing security. These developments are crucial to supporting real-world use cases, from payments to asset tokenization, beyond purely speculative markets.

Blockchain’s influence is also expanding into gaming and entertainment, although this remains a smaller segment. Some regulated casinos and gaming platforms are experimenting with blockchain for transparency and provably fair operations.

Limited blockchain-powered slot games, as noted by Kiwislots, illustrate how on-chain mechanics can verify outcomes and enhance trust without fundamentally changing the traditional player experience. While these applications are niche, they highlight the versatility of blockchain beyond finance.

The defining theme for blockchain in 2026 is maturity. Regulation has not stifled innovation; rather, it has redirected it toward projects that prioritize compliance, transparency, and utility. Speculation remains, but it no longer dominates the narrative. Blockchain is increasingly regarded as infrastructure capable of supporting payments, markets, and data systems with efficiency and reliability. With U.S. regulation providing a clearer path, the industry is poised for sustainable growth, integrating both traditional financial players and emerging decentralized systems.

As blockchain continues to evolve, the focus in 2026 is on delivering practical, legally compliant applications that can transform how businesses operate and how consumers engage with digital assets, setting the stage for long-term adoption across multiple sectors.

How Real-Time Payments and Low-Friction Mobile UX Are Reshaping Digital Platforms in Emerging Markets

Emerging markets such as Brazil and Mexico are increasingly shaping the future of digital platforms. Unlike mature economies that still rely on legacy banking systems and desktop-first user journeys, much of Latin America has moved directly into mobile-first financial infrastructure. This shift is redefining how platforms design user experience, monetize services, and scale efficiently.

A major driver of this transformation is the rise of real-time payment systems. Brazil’s Pix and Mexico’s SPEI allow instant, low-cost transfers directly from mobile devices, dramatically reducing friction in online transactions. These systems have normalized expectations around speed and accessibility, particularly among younger, mobile-native users.

For digital platforms, instant settlement fundamentally changes user behavior. When payments are confirmed in seconds rather than hours or days, platforms can build experiences around immediacy. Registration flows shorten, abandonment rates decline, and engagement becomes more continuous.

Low-friction mobile UX has therefore become a strategic priority. Successful platforms in emerging markets emphasize minimal steps, native mobile flows, biometric authentication, and clear real-time feedback. In many cases, users can onboard, fund an account, and interact with a service in just a few minutes.

The combination of real-time payments and mobile-first design is also enabling new types of digital services. Subscription platforms, creator economies, on-demand applications, and interactive digital experiences all benefit from faster settlement and simplified interfaces.

For investors and platform builders, the broader takeaway is not about individual industries but about infrastructure. Markets like Brazil and Mexico demonstrate how real-time payments and low-friction UX can unlock scalable digital behavior.

As instant payment networks expand globally and crypto-based settlement layers mature, the lessons from Latin America are likely to influence digital platform design far beyond the region.

One area where this convergence is increasingly visible is online entertainment. Interactive platforms that rely on live participation and instant feedback depend heavily on low-latency interfaces and real-time transactions. In regulated digital environments, formats such as bac bo illustrate how modern payment infrastructure and mobile UX can support transparent, real-time interaction without unnecessary complexity for users.

Bitcoin Faces Key Test If 2026 Turns Into A Bear Market Year – $65,000 in Target

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Bitcoin is approaching what analysts describe as a decisive moment, with long-term valuation models pointing to a critical support zone that could define the remainder of the cycle.

Fresh analysis from Fidelity Investments’ global macro director Jurrien Timmer highlights $65,000 as a pivotal level if market conditions deteriorate into a traditional bear phase.

After closely tracking its long-term power law trend during the recent bull run, Bitcoin may now be due for a broader consolidation or corrective move.

Timmer suggested that price behavior is increasingly aligned with a slower adoption curve rather than aggressive exponential growth.

“It is following the internet S-curve a lot closer now than the power law curve,” Timmer acknowledged.

Historically, Bitcoin’s deepest drawdowns have coincided with moves toward the lower boundary of its power law valuation range, often marking major long-term bottoms.

“For now, the line in the sand for Bitcoin is $65k (previous high), and below that $45k. The latter is the power law trendline,” Timmer continued.

“That’s still far away but if Bitcoin consolidates for the next year, that trendline could get closer to $65k and could become a do-or-die line in the sand for Bitcoin.”

Do Bitcoin Cycles Still Matter?

The analysis has reignited debate around whether Bitcoin remains governed by four-year halving cycles that historically shaped bull and bear markets.

Timmer believes the halving’s influence is gradually diminishing as Bitcoin matures, though he maintains that bear markets are unlikely to disappear entirely.

That view was echoed by executive David Eng, who pushed back against claims that Bitcoin has entered a perpetual growth phase.

“The idea that Bitcoin has ‘graduated’ into a no-bear-market S-curve price regime misunderstands how prices form,” he argued.

“Bitcoin is a scarce fixed asset inside the financial system, not a standalone S-curve like the internet.”

Eng added that longer cycles and reduced volatility are natural outcomes as liquidity deepens and institutional participation expands.

Compressed Price Signals Point Higher

Questions around cycle theory intensified after Bitcoin ended 2025 in negative territory, breaking a long-standing post-halving pattern.

Despite that anomaly, Eng believes current valuation models suggest pent-up upside rather than prolonged stagnation.

“Bitcoin isn’t stalling it’s coiling below its long-term growth law, and history says resolution comes by price catching up, not the law giving way,” he told followers.

If that pattern holds, a relief rally could emerge even if broader macro conditions remain uncertain through 2026.

Solidaris Capital’s NovaDerm Promotions and a Series of Regulatory Evasions and Tax Misuse

The past twelve months have seen a host of fringe financial news articles emerge across the web, portraying Solidaris Capital and its principal, Geoff Dietrich, as whistleblowers who exposed a Theranos-like fraud by a competitor. Alleging investor deception and regulatory misconduct, each hit piece quickly started disseminating unproven accusations as fact. 

However, it just took a few reviews of actual court records (alongside a look at the broader context of the matter) to unearth a very different story, one where, far from unmasking fraud, the entire media offensive by Solidaris had been aimed at diverting attention from its own pattern of regulatory evasion and misuse of charitable tax structures. Information about this can be found on the fact-finding Solidaris Capital website. 

Allegations without a verdict

At the centre of the storm is a Dallas County lawsuit filed by Solidaris Capital LLC, which told readers that investors were being misled and regulators were being deceived. In reality, the case produced no findings of fact or any ruling on the merits. No evidence has been heard, and no liability has been determined. Yet the coverage conveniently converted mere accusations into “facts,” treating claims in a legal filing as if they were proven.  

The ethical lapses in this campaign extended to glaring omissions about Solidaris itself because the coverage cast Dietrich and Solidaris as crusaders for the public, but ignored how Solidaris’s own investment programs operated in the grey from 2022 through 2025, an extremely long period of time by any metric. 

In that period, the firms’ affiliated partnerships raised vast sums from investors in lieu of substantial charitable tax deductions. To put things into a monetary context, those years saw roughly $786 million raised, an amount marketed as generating nearly $3.93 billion in donation deductions. 

These funds were subsequently rerouted through layers of partnerships, with the bulk of capital being absorbed by fees. Public records show about 75% of investor funds went to expenses, leaving only a small fraction for the actual charitable assets; yet several recipient charities’ IRS filings revealed no record of receiving the promised donations.

Unsurprisingly, this pattern was conveniently glossed over in Solidaris’s narrative, with “their” articles pointing fingers outward, even accusing competitors of fraud for lacking FDA approval, without turning the lens inward. That FDA insinuation, in fact, was baseless, as many early-stage diagnostics routinely operate legally without gaining approval. 

On the contrary, Solidaris’s own flagship program, NovaDerm, a niche dermatological operating in a highly regulated category, had zero FDA approval or trial records when first pitched as a charitable donation opportunity. 

If lack of FDA clearance signified fraud, NovaDerm would undoubtedly be the bigger red flag. In any case, such clear double standards have revealed how such so-called “exposés” were being engineered to deflect attention from Solidaris’ own operations.

Better investor vigilance is the need of the hour in such matters

This entire saga offers up a cautionary tale for investors evaluating any charitable tax-advantaged structures. When a structure advertises deduction multiples far in excess of the invested amount, it typically signals aggressive valuation assumptions or accounting positions that may later attract regulatory scrutiny. 

In fact, the IRS has repeatedly warned that such arrangements expose participants to disallowance of deductions, penalties, or prolonged audits if the underlying economics do not support the claimed tax benefit. Also, equally important is understanding where investor capital actually goes once it is committed. In legitimate charitable transactions, the majority of funds are directed toward acquiring or producing the assets ultimately donated. 

Structures in which most proceeds are consumed by licensing fees, marketing costs, or administrative charges (especially when those payments flow back to the promoters or their affiliates) deserve closer examination. 

Lastly, many early-stage technologies lawfully operate without final regulatory approvals during development, but investors should be wary when products that ordinarily require clearance are used to justify immediate tax deductions without any meaningful validation. Most credible sponsors are transparent about the regulatory status of their technology and the risks associated with that status. 

Bitcoin Tests Weekly Highs As Futures Activity Drives Early 2026 Rally

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The opening days of 2026 saw Bitcoin and several major altcoins recover toward the upper end of their weekly trading ranges.

The move reflected improving investor sentiment and a pickup in trading volume across crypto markets.

Since Jan. 1, Bitcoin has shown signs of strengthening price structure.

Daily charts display a pattern of higher lows and higher highs.

This tightening consolidation pushed Bitcoin toward a weekly high near $94,800.

Market data shows clear liquidation zones forming above and below the current price range.

Long liquidation clusters have developed between $89,000 and $87,000.

Short positions have accumulated close to the $95,000 resistance area.

From a technical perspective, the early-year rally pushed Bitcoin above its 20-day moving average.

The 20-day moving average is now converging with the 50-day moving average.

This convergence is often watched by traders as a signal of trend continuation or reversal.

Bitcoin’s failure to hold above $95,000 suggests profit-taking by short-term participants.

Some traders appear to have exited positions in anticipation of a pullback.

A retest of support near the 20-day moving average around $89,400 is viewed as a possible scenario.

If buying pressure returns and volume remains strong, another attempt on $95,000 could follow.

A successful breakout could trigger short covering and forced liquidations.

Such a move would exploit a visible gap in the volume profile.

This could open the path for a rally of roughly 13% toward $101,500.

Recent price action highlights the growing influence of perpetual futures markets.

Intra-day volatility has largely been driven by leveraged traders rather than spot buyers.

On Jan. 5, futures buy volume surged by nearly $1.1 billion as Bitcoin rallied toward $94,800.

During the same move, around $100 million in short positions were liquidated on major exchanges.

These liquidations amplified upward momentum over a short time frame.

The data suggests that futures positioning remains crowded near key resistance levels.

If traders push Bitcoin back toward $94,000, similar liquidation dynamics could emerge again.

This creates a feedback loop where price moves trigger forced buying or selling.

While this can accelerate rallies, it also increases downside risk during pullbacks.

Altcoins have mirrored Bitcoin’s recovery, though with more muted moves.

Traders remain selective, focusing on high-liquidity assets rather than speculative tokens.

Overall market structure suggests cautious optimism rather than euphoric risk-taking.

Participants appear willing to buy dips but remain sensitive to resistance levels.

The coming sessions are likely to test whether spot demand can replace leveraged momentum.

A sustained breakout would require consistent volume beyond futures-driven spikes.

Until then, Bitcoin remains range-bound with clear levels shaping trader behaviour.

Stablecoin Payment Flows Could Reach $56.6 Trillion By 2030, Bloomberg Intelligence Says

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Stablecoin payment flows could surge to $56.6 trillion by 2030, according to new estimates from Bloomberg Intelligence, positioning stablecoins as one of the most significant payment tools in global finance.

Bloomberg estimates that stablecoin payment flows totaled $2.9 trillion in 2025, highlighting the scale of growth implied by the projection.

Reaching $56.6 trillion within five years would require an extraordinary compound annual growth rate of roughly 81%, underlining how rapidly the sector is expected to expand.

Drivers Behind The Expansion

Bloomberg Intelligence pointed to increasing institutional adoption as a central driver behind the projected growth in stablecoin payment volumes.

Rising use of stablecoins in countries facing inflationary pressure and economic instability is also expected to contribute meaningfully to adoption.

In these regions, dollar-backed stablecoins are increasingly used as both payment rails and informal savings tools, offering an alternative to volatile local currencies.

Payment Volumes Accelerated In 2025

Stablecoin payment flows grew by 81% year-on-year in 2025, according to Bloomberg, reinforcing the momentum behind the asset class.

Despite the surge in total volume, Bloomberg reported that the share of stablecoin activity occurring on decentralized crypto platforms declined during the year.

This shift was identified using data from crypto analytics firm Artemis, which tracks stablecoin usage across centralized and decentralized venues.

Centralized Versus Decentralized Usage

Tether’s USDT continues to dominate centralized finance usage, remaining the most widely used stablecoin for everyday payments, business transactions, and savings.

Circle’s USDC, by contrast, remains the preferred stablecoin across decentralized finance platforms, where transparency and regulatory alignment are often prioritized.

Artemis co-founder Anthony Yim attributed the decline in DeFi’s share of stablecoin flows to increased usage in emerging economies.

He said this trend reflects how users are navigating an “increasingly unstable geopolitical landscape.”

Transaction Volumes Highlight Market Concentration

Despite USDT’s dominance in circulation, USDC recorded higher total transaction volume in 2025.

USDC transactions reached $18.3 trillion during the year, compared with $13.3 trillion for USDT.

Together, the two stablecoins accounted for more than 95% of total stablecoin transaction volume.

Overall stablecoin transactions reached a record $33 trillion in 2025, representing a 72% year-on-year increase.

Market Capitalization Tells A Different Story

While USDC led in transaction volume, USDT continues to dominate from a valuation perspective.

Tether’s stablecoin currently holds a market capitalization of approximately $186.9 billion.

USDC’s market capitalization stands significantly lower, at around $74.9 billion.

This disparity reflects differences in geographic usage, regulatory positioning, and issuer strategies.

Broader Stablecoin Market Outlook

The overall stablecoin market is currently valued at roughly $312 billion.

In April, the U.S. Treasury estimated that the market could grow to $2 trillion by 2028, underscoring expectations for rapid expansion.

Bloomberg Intelligence’s longer-term projection extends this trajectory into the next decade, driven by payments rather than trading alone.

Nation-State And Institutional Adoption Gathers Pace

Government-level engagement with stablecoins has intensified following recent regulatory developments.

After U.S. President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law in July, both Canada and the United Kingdom renewed efforts to introduce stablecoin frameworks.

These initiatives are expected to roll out in 2026 or shortly thereafter, signaling broader acceptance of stablecoins in mainstream financial systems.

Payment Firms Prepare Stablecoin Integrations

Institutional adoption is also accelerating across the payments industry.

Western Union is preparing to launch a stablecoin settlement system on the Solana blockchain in the first half of 2026.

MoneyGram and Zelle are also rolling out stablecoin-based solutions aimed at enabling faster and cheaper cross-border payments.

Stablecoins Move Toward Financial Infrastructure Status

Bloomberg Intelligence’s forecast suggests stablecoins are evolving beyond niche crypto tools into core components of global payment infrastructure.

If the projected growth materializes, stablecoins could rival traditional payment networks in scale and importance by the end of the decade.