The digital sector has spent much of the last decade successfully dismantling borders and pushing technological boundaries; however the financial plumbing underneath has struggled to keep pace. While cross-border trade has accelerated, B2B settlement infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with the demands of a 24/7 global market.
In 2026, a merchant in New York can sell a product or service to someone in Valletta in a matter of seconds, but the settlement of that transaction still relies heavily on a banking system that is firmly stuck in 1995, with payments taking several hours or days to be finalised. This is valuable time that no growth-focused business can really afford to spend waiting; instead, it could be better focused on customer acquisition, building new technology, improving and scaling operations and expanding into new markets. This is where digital currencies come in.
While the volatility of first-generation cryptocurrencies kept risk-averse boards on the sidelines, the market has finally matured and we’re beginning to see more industries embrace digital currencies - be it Bitcoin or Stablecoins. For those that may perhaps still be hesitant about the move towards digital, stablecoins in particular have emerged as the definitive settlement rail for enterprise use, offering the efficiency of blockchain technology without the speculative risk of cryptocurrencies.
In high-growth digital sectors, payment challenges aren’t just strategic talking points - they cause daily operational headaches. In 2026, companies are shifting their focus towards accessing new global markets, but they’re often hindered by the 9-5 banking hours, public holidays and arbitrary cut-off times that feel increasingly reminiscent of times gone by.
Businesses are also faced with the financial cost incurred by legacy payment technologies. Analysis by FXC Intelligence in late 2025 found that B2B cross-border payments showed a global average transaction cost of 1.6%, actually rising from the previous year despite the G20’s 1% target. While 1.6% might not sound like much, it soon eats into your business.
If traditional banking is slow, then digital currencies are the ‘fast-forward’ button that propels businesses into a new era of payments. Yet, for most mainstream merchants, the transition has been stalled by an aversion to risk, technological limitations and a need for stability. Accepting a payment in an unpegged asset like Bitcoin introduces a level of currency risk that some may be apprehensive about. Predictable, tangible revenue streams tend to take precedence for many finance teams. The hesitation we’ve seen over the last few years wasn't a rejection of the tech behind digital currencies, but rather a refusal to manage the reconciliation nightmare that comes with price swings. It was only when the "speed" of the network was decoupled from the "volatility" of the asset that the conversation finally shifted.
Unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, stablecoins can offer a viable solution for those that want to embrace digital currencies with a lower degree of risk. Acting as a digital representation of fiat currencies, stablecoins such as Tether (USDT) or USD Coin (USDC) are pegged 1:1 to assets such as the US dollar or Euro, offering a predictability that businesses require while utilising the always-on speed and traceability of blockchain.
We’re starting to see more companies welcome this pragmatic shift with open arms. According to recent Artemis Analytics data, B2B stablecoin payment volumes have now surpassed a $76 billion annual run rate, marking the moment that this technology moved from experimental curiosity to a solution for business growth.
The strategic advantage of stablecoins is that they can offer a viable alternative for businesses looking to instill a sense of control, efficiency and growth, all while expanding their crypto portfolio. A dollar-pegged stablecoin functions with the same predictability as a bank deposit, allowing merchants to settle in a predictable fiat value and remove the volatility risk entirely.
By opting for stablecoins over traditional banking merchants can reduce transaction fees to mere pennies, benefit from settlement finality without chargebacks and remain focused on global expansion - with the added bonus of being able to operate on a 24/7 basis.
New regulatory developments are accelerating this further. Following the MiCA (Markets in Crypto Assets) framework implementation in Europe, which came into force in June 2024, transaction volumes for euro-pegged stablecoins (like EURC) jumped by 899.3% - rising from approximately $383 million to over $3.8 billion by late 2025, according to DECTA research. This level of growth is testament to the fact that the stablecoin market continues to grow at an exponential rate, solidifying their position as a solution for operational challenges.
Stablecoins are continuing to become some of the most influential payment methods in digital finance. They’re reshaping the industry and ushering in an era of fast, reliable, international settlement that we’ve all been waiting for.
Stablecoins serve as a high-efficiency alternative to legacy financial infrastructure, effectively removing the 'time-zone tax' that currently governs traditional payments systems. For merchants operating in a global, always-on economy, they offer a practical way to move money quicker and further than ever before.
If you’re still limited to operating within traditional banking hours to settle your accounts, you aren’t just losing time - you’re losing your competitive edge.
Adopting a digital payment rail shouldn't require a merchant to abandon their existing business model. Payhound provides the regulated digital payment infrastructure to bridge this gap, allowing merchants to accept stablecoin payments and settle directly in fiat to their existing bank accounts. We handle the wallet management, real-time exchange rates, and MiCA compliance, giving you 24/7 operational freedom.
Through the Payhound platform, you can accept stablecoin payments from a global audience and have those funds settled directly in fiat currency to your existing bank account. We handle the complexity - the wallets, the exchange rates and the compliance - leaving you with the results: faster settlement, lower costs and 24/7 operational freedom.
We currently support the following assets:
Due to MiCA regulatory requirements, of which Payhound obtained a licence in 2025, USDT is only available to clients outside the EU. This ensures businesses have the flexibility to choose the stablecoin rails that best fit their operations.
For more information, contact us at info@payhound.com.
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