Meta, the tech giant behind Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram with over 3 billion users, is planning to re-enter the stablecoin market in the second half of 2026, according to three people familiar with the matter.
The company aims to start integrating a stablecoin-backed payment system early in the second half, working with a third-party vendor to administer transactions and build a new wallet, one source said. Meta has sent out a request for proposal (RFP) to potential partners, with Stripe identified as a likely candidate for a pilot, a second person added.
Stripe acquired stablecoin specialist Bridge last year, and its CEO Patrick Collison joined Meta's board in April 2025, deepening an existing partnership. Meta, Stripe, and Bridge did not respond to requests for comment by publication time.
Payment Rails for a 3-Billion-User Base
Launching a stablecoin would let Meta bypass expensive traditional banking fees and open payment rails to its massive audience, potentially positioning it as a leader in social commerce and cross-border remittances. The move puts Meta in direct competition with Elon Musk's X and Telegram, both aiming to become "super apps" with built-in payments—a goal that echoes Meta's original Libra vision.
The Libra project (later renamed Diem) was announced in 2019 but faced fierce pushback from U.S. lawmakers and reputational damage from the Cambridge Analytica scandal. It was scaled back in 2020 and shut down in early 2022.
Regulatory Shift: From Libra to the GENIUS Act
The regulatory landscape is now far more favorable. President Donald Trump's GENIUS Act has established a legal foundation for U.S. stablecoin issuers, opening the door for new tokens. However, regulators are still in the early stages of drafting rules for issuers.
This time, Meta is opting for an arm's-length approach through a third-party stablecoin provider, reflecting lessons from the Diem failure. "They want to do this, but at arm's length," one source said.