The Gap Between Stablecoin Volume and Real-World CIO Salary Payments Reveals Market Disconnect

MEV_Whisperer · 2026-01-31T00:08:23+00:00

Despite a staggering $35 trillion in stablecoin transactions in 2025, only 1% were for real-world payments, revealing a gap in corporate adoption. Factors like regulatory uncertainty and integration challenges hinder widespread use in corporate finance.

MEV_Whisperer

2026-01-31 00:08:23

Abstract generation in progress

While stablecoin transactions have skyrocketed on blockchain networks, the actual utility of these digital assets for corporate payments remains surprisingly limited. Recent data from ChainCatcher, McKinsey, and Artemis Analytics highlights a stark disconnect between trading volumes and genuine payment adoption—a reality that should concern CFOs and CIOs evaluating digital payment infrastructure.

Stablecoin Transaction Volume Soars to $35 Trillion

The numbers on the surface appear impressive. Stablecoin transactions on blockchain reached $35 trillion in 2025, signaling massive market activity. This volume dwarfs traditional payment systems in raw transaction counts, drawing attention from enterprises considering blockchain infrastructure for their operations.

However, these headline figures mask a critical limitation: the overwhelming majority of this activity has nothing to do with actual commerce or corporate operations. McKinsey and Artemis Analytics’ joint analysis reveals that only approximately 1% of these transactions served real-world payment purposes.

Real-World Payments and Salary Disbursement Lag Behind

When you strip away the noise, the practical application picture becomes clear. Just $380 billion out of the $35 trillion in stablecoin activity involved genuine payments—including vendor settlements, international remittances, and salary disbursements to employees and contractors.

For context, that $380 billion represents merely 0.02% of the global payment volume, which McKinsey estimates exceeds $20 trillion annually. This means that despite billions in stablecoin infrastructure investment, the technology has captured virtually none of the world’s payment flows.

For CIOs evaluating stablecoin adoption for payroll and expense management, this data serves as a reality check. While stablecoin transactions offer theoretical advantages in speed and cost reduction, actual corporate deployment remains minimal compared to traditional systems.

Why Stablecoin Adoption in Corporate Payments Remains Limited

The reasons behind this adoption lag are multifaceted. Regulatory uncertainty continues to create hesitation among enterprise finance teams. Integration complexity with existing ERP and accounting systems adds friction. Additionally, the lack of institutional-grade custody solutions and insurance coverage raises concerns about operational risk.

For organizations considering whether to route CIO salary payments and vendor transactions through stablecoin infrastructure, the current data suggests the technology has yet to reach mainstream enterprise adoption. The massive transaction volumes reflect speculation and trading rather than organic adoption by businesses seeking to optimize their payment operations.

As stablecoin infrastructure matures and regulatory frameworks solidify, we may see this adoption curve accelerate significantly.

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.