Stablecoins Become the Core Driver of Web3, with $33 Trillion in On-Chain Transactions Last Year
Crypto research firm Decentralised.co (DCo) recently published a report highlighting that the core driving force of Web3 is shifting from asset speculation toward practical applications centered on stablecoins and asset tokenization. Data shows that global on-chain stablecoin transaction volume reached $33 trillion last year, with particularly strong demand for digital dollars in emerging markets such as Latin America. This trend indicates that stablecoins are moving beyond their role as mere trading instruments to become a critical pillar of global payments and financial infrastructure.
Infrastructure Maturation Drives On-Chain Neobanks and Asset Tokenization
Infrastructure improvements are catalyzing transformation across several key areas. On one hand, the barrier to building on-chain neobanks has significantly lowered, accelerating the rollout of commercial use cases such as cross-border payroll. On the other hand, major exchanges like Kraken are actively integrating tokenized assets to facilitate global trading of traditional financial instruments like U.S. equities. The introduction of tokenized assets is expected to break down geographical barriers, enhance liquidity, and reshape the trading model for conventional assets. The report also notes that demand for tokenized dollars and U.S. Treasuries continues to grow, opening pathways for traditional financial institutions to enter the crypto space.
AI Agents Create New Demand for Payment and Risk Assessment
As AI agents account for an increasing share of network traffic, stablecoins are gradually becoming the underlying payment network for their instant settlement needs. This trend is generating new demand for services tailored to agent payments and risk assessment. Looking ahead, the convergence of stablecoins and AI will open up a new business ecosystem that requires specialized risk management, compliance, and settlement tools. DCo believes this domain will become a key growth area for the next phase of Web3 applications, urging infrastructure builders and financial institutions to position themselves early.