Meta is quietly drawing up plans to bring stablecoin payments to its family of social platforms, according to people familiar with the matter. The rollout, expected to begin early in the second half of 2025, would include Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. Unlike its failed Libra project, Meta will not issue its own stablecoin—instead, it will rely on third-party payment firms to handle the dollar-pegged transactions.
The company has already sent out requests for proposals to external vendors. As reported by CoinDesk, Meta intends to select a provider to manage stablecoin-backed settlements and support a new wallet feature. The core strategy: let partners handle issuance while Meta focuses on user experience and merchant integration.
One person briefed on the discussions said Meta wants the rollout at arm's length—meaning the company stays removed from direct stablecoin issuance. That approach marks a sharp contrast to the Libra saga. In 2019, Meta (then Facebook) announced Libra, a global stablecoin that faced immediate backlash from U.S. lawmakers over financial stability and sovereignty concerns. The project was rebranded as Diem but ultimately shut down in early 2022.
Stripe Likely as Pilot Partner
Since Libra's collapse, the U.S. regulatory environment has shifted. The GENIUS Act, signed by President Donald Trump, created a legal framework for stablecoin issuers, though detailed rules are still being drafted. Meta's partnership model fits this evolving landscape—it can serve users without the burden of being a regulated issuer.
Stripe has emerged as the frontrunner for the pilot partnership, according to sources. The payments giant acquired stablecoin infrastructure firm Bridge last year and has a long-standing relationship with Meta. Moreover, Stripe CEO Patrick Collison joined Meta's board in April 2025, a move that paves the way for deeper collaboration.
If Stripe and Meta finalize the deal, stablecoin payments could scale rapidly across Meta's more than three billion global users. Use cases include cross-border remittances, content tipping, and ad settlement, all bypassing traditional banking rails. Unlike X and Telegram, which are building in-house payment systems, Meta prefers infrastructure partnerships to limit regulatory exposure.
Meta declined to comment, as did the firms approached for potential partnerships. Observers note that if the U.S. framework solidifies, Meta's stablecoin pivot could avoid the pitfalls that killed Libra—while still putting stablecoins at the center of social commerce.