In brief:
₿- Stablecoins are driving real-world adoption of crypto payments, enabling practical use cases like remittances, payroll, and gig economy transactions with reduced volatility.
₿- Artificial intelligence is improving the crypto payment experience, enhancing user personalization, fraud detection, onboarding, and developer efficiency.
₿- Crypto payments are emerging as a dominant onchain activity, second only to trading, with 27% of users expecting it to lead the onchain experience in the next 3–5 years.
Crypto payments are finally breaking out of the niche and entering mainstream finance in 2025, thanks to rapid innovation in artificial intelligence and the growing importance of stablecoins. A new report by Reown and YouGov reveals that 37% of active crypto users in the U.S. and UK see AI and payments as the top catalysts for adoption this year.
According to the survey, payments have overtaken traditional DeFi tools like farming and staking, now standing as the second most enjoyed onchain activity.
More importantly, 27% of respondents believe payments will dominate the onchain experience over the next three to five years.
Stablecoins power real-world crypto transactions
One of the biggest game-changers? Stablecoins. With the rise of dollar-pegged digital assets, crypto payments are no longer just theoretical. They’re being used for everyday transactions like remittances, gig economy payouts, and even payroll.
Jess Houlgrave, CEO of Reown, emphasized that stablecoin-based payment rails are transforming embedded finance. “Onchain payments are no longer an edge case,” she said. “From real-world remittances to stablecoin rails powering embedded finance, we’re witnessing a shift.”
Stablecoins offer the predictability needed for mass adoption. By eliminating the volatility usually associated with crypto, they allow users to transact confidently, whether they’re sending money across borders or paying freelancers.
AI enhances payment usability and trust
While stablecoins bring reliability, artificial intelligence enhances the user experience. Houlgrave explained that AI boosts personalization, fraud detection, and customer support. For developers, AI accelerates onboarding, automates audits, and streamlines operations.
“Payments bring real-world demand. AI improves the experience,” said Houlgrave. Together, they solve the core challenge: making crypto useful, trusted, and easy to use.
Real-life infrastructure is replacing the “crypto demo”
What was once seen as a futuristic demo has now evolved into real infrastructure. A growing number of companies are paying employees in crypto, and workers want ways to spend it. That demand is pushing tools and platforms to evolve quickly—catching up with the original vision of Bitcoin as peer-to-peer electronic cash.
With stablecoins and AI at the forefront, crypto payments are no longer optional—they’re becoming essential.
Stay informed,
Rodcas Consulting Group