Consumer adoption intent for stablecoins increases significantly when bank-level protections are offered, according to research. This trend is occurring alongside substantial growth in stablecoin settlement volumes and the implementation of new regulatory frameworks.
Consumer research conducted by FIS in November 2025 revealed that 74.8% of US respondents would consider using stablecoin services if offered by their primary bank. Furthermore, 66.3% of consumers stated that FDIC-style insurance would increase their likelihood of using stablecoins. In contrast, fewer than 4% of US respondents expressed willingness to try unregulated stablecoin alternatives, highlighting a clear preference for security and familiarity.
This demand for protected digital assets coincides with significant market activity. Visa reports $20 billion in annualized stablecoin settlement volume. Payment volumes across Visa’s stablecoin-linked card programs have surged nearly 200% year-over-year, with these programs now operating in over 100 markets globally and more than 160 stablecoin-linked card programs active worldwide. Visa’s onchain analytics data shows a dramatic increase in retail-sized stablecoin transfers (under $250), growing from $0.5 billion in 2019 to $69.8 billion in 2025.
The regulatory landscape has also evolved, with the GENIUS Act being signed into law on July 18, 2025. This legislation established a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins in the US. The act introduced stringent reserve mandates, requiring issuers to back their tokens with high-quality liquid assets, and created consumer protection rules that align stablecoins more closely with the regulatory treatment of bank deposits.
The FIS survey data, indicating strong consumer interest in bank-offered stablecoin services, was captured shortly after the GENIUS Act’s passage, suggesting that regulatory clarity has unlocked a positive sentiment shift. This environment presents different strategic pressures for the two dominant stablecoin issuers, Circle and Tether.
Circle’s USDC, with its emphasis on regulatory compliance and established banking partnerships, appears well-positioned for a future where stablecoins are integrated with traditional banking services. Tether’s USDT, while commanding a larger market share, has faced persistent questions regarding reserve transparency. The new regulatory mandates under the GENIUS Act may require Tether to adapt its operations to meet these evolving market demands for security and transparency.
While the research indicates a strong consumer preference for protected stablecoin services, uncertainties remain regarding the specific nature of the questions surrounding Tether’s reserve transparency and the exact strategic adaptations the issuer may need to undertake.
Why This Matters
The materials describe a narrow update: Consumer research indicates a strong preference for stablecoin services when they are offered with bank-like protections, such as FDIC-style insurance. The specific nature of the persistent questions about Tether’s reserve transparency.
Broader Context
Source materials place the factual news in this context: Research into consumer attitudes toward stablecoins consistently reveals the same pattern: offer people the speed and convenience of blockchain-based dollars, wrap them in the kind of protections they expect from a checking account, and adoption intent climbs dramatically.
