Stablecoin Adoption Grows in 2025

Stablecoin adoption among retail users has set new records this year, with transaction volumes through August already exceeding last year’s total, according to a report by CEX.io.

Retail-sized transfers, defined as transactions under $250, crossed $5.84 billion in August alone, the highest ever recorded, based on data from Visa and Allium referenced in the report. With nearly four months left in the year, 2025 has already become the busiest period yet for stablecoin transfer volume at the consumer level.

The statistics highlight stablecoins, cryptocurrencies tied to fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar, becoming increasingly integrated into everyday financial activities, including cross-border remittances and microtransactions, as noted in the report.

Survey data from emerging markets involving over 2,600 consumers in Nigeria, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Indonesia reinforced this trend, according to CEX.io analysts. A majority of respondents indicated they turned to stablecoins to avoid high banking fees and slow transfers. Nearly 70% reported using stablecoins more frequently than the previous year, with more than three-quarters expecting continued growth in usage.

Blockchain Activity Shifts

The report also noted changes in the distribution of activity among blockchains. The Tron (TRX) blockchain, traditionally favored for retail transfers due to its low fees and wide support for Tether’s USDT, has lost market share. Monthly transaction counts fell by 1.3 million, or 6%, with its growth in volume trailing behind competitors.

In contrast, Binance Smart Chain (BSC) has emerged as the top choice for retail users, capturing nearly 40% of retail stablecoin activity. The network’s transaction count surged 75% this year, with transfer volume increasing 67%. This momentum followed Binance’s delisting of USDT for European users in March and a resurgence in memecoin trading on PancakeSwap.

The Ethereum network, encompassing the base chain and layer-2 networks, accounted for over 20% of transfer volume and 31% of transaction counts. While small transfers favored layer-2 solutions, the mainnet saw a significant increase in the retail segment. Sub-$250 transfers on the mainnet rose by 81% in volume and 184% in count.

Ethereum has primarily been used for large-value transactions traditionally due to high fees; however, transaction costs have decreased by more than 70% over the past year, making mainnet transactions more competitive even for sub-$250 transfers.

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