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Stablecoin Stocks Setting the Pace for Digital Finance’s Future

Stablecoins are transforming finance in 2025, offering investors a way to tap digital currency growth without crypto’s volatility.
Valued at $247 billion with $15 billion in daily transactions, stablecoins outpace traditional payment systems, and companies in issuance, processing, and blockchain infrastructure provide diverse investment opportunities targeting long-term digital finance trends.

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Understanding Stablecoins
Stablecoins maintain steady value by pegging to assets like the U.S. dollar, using blockchain for secure, low-cost transactions.
Unlike volatile Bitcoin, stablecoins like Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC) are backed by cash or Treasuries, cutting cross-border payment costs from 6.6% to under 3%.
They power 67% of 2024 DeFi trading and 15% of remittances, especially in underbanked regions.

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A Surge in Stablecoin
Stablecoins are rewriting the rules of financial intermediation, with their market growing 46% to $247 billion in 2025 and processing $15 billion in daily transactions, far outpacing Bitcoin’s volumes.
This growth reflects their role as efficient, low-cost solutions for payments and remittances.
The U.S. Senate’s 2025 GENIUS Act, mandating 1:1 reserve backing and audits, has fostered a supportive environment for innovation, while Trump’s January 2025 Bitcoin reserve order underscores broader crypto acceptance.
Retailers like Walmart and Amazon are exploring stablecoin issuance to bypass credit card fees as high as 3%, potentially saving billions annually.
Meanwhile, 20% of Fortune 500 firms are integrating stablecoins into payments and supply chains, driving demand for infrastructure providers.

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Future Sector Prospects
The future of stablecoins is bright, even if the landscape is complicated.
Yield-bearing stablecoins, such as USDY and USDS, have surged to an $11 billion market, offering investors income potential beyond traditional models.
The prospect of stablecoin ETFs, which could formalize this asset class, is gaining traction, though the U.S. GENIUS Act’s proposed ban on yield-bearing models introduces uncertainty.
Circle’s bold move to establish the First National Digital Currency Bank, N.A., aims to expand USDC’s custody and payment services, positioning it to compete with traditional trust banks like BNY Mellon.
Retail giants like Walmart are exploring stablecoin issuance to sidestep credit card fees, signaling broader adoption.

Risks in Stablecoins
Stablecoins face a complex risk landscape as they blend traditional financial models with crypto’s unique tech and, in some cases, represent the worst of both worlds (as well as the best):
Regulatory shifts pose a significant challenge; the EU’s MiCA framework imposes stringent capital requirements, while the U.S. GENIUS Act’s potential ban on yield-bearing stablecoins could stifle innovation.
Cybersecurity remains a critical concern, with $2 billion in hack losses across crypto platforms in recent years underscoring vulnerabilities.
Reserve mismanagement, as evidenced by USDC’s brief 2023 depegging and TerraUSD’s 2022 collapse, threatens stability.
Illicit transactions, though only 0.14% of volume, invite regulatory scrutiny.
Despite these challenges, stablecoin stocks are on a tear (look to Circle’s IPO as proof, even if the price action is spicy) and represent a long-term digital transformation play in finance as evidence by mega-caps like Walmart and MasterCard adopting the tech.

The Main Takeaway
❌ Circle is the go-to move in stablecoin stocks but, even with its planned extension into traditional banking, it’s a bit too expensive.
✅ Instead, diversify with ETFs and firms tied to payments and blockchain infrastructure for steady growth.
✅ If you want to run a direct stablecoin strategy, do your due diligence, as some issuers like Tether face transparency concerns that could lead to volatility.

VanEck Digital Transformation ETF (NYSEARCA: DAPP)
Expense ratio: 0.50%, or $50 on a $10,000 investment.
The VanEck DAPP ETF invests in stablecoin-related firms like exchanges and blockchain developers.
Its diversified holdings reduce risk while capturing the digital finance surge. In Q1 2025, DAPP saw $500 million in inflows, driven by wider digital currency trends.
Fiserv (NYSE: FI) Fiserv’s FIUSD stablecoin, integrated with Mastercard, simplifies payments for merchants and banks. |
Mastercard (NYSE: MA) Mastercard connects Fiserv’s FIUSD stablecoin to its payment network, serving 150 million merchants worldwide. |
Coinbase Global (NASDAQ: COIN) Coinbase supports USDC payments and custody for 10 million users, anchoring its role in digital finance. |

That’s it for today’s edition—thanks for reading! Reply to this email with any feedback or let me know which macro trends or markets you’d like me to cover next.
Best Regards,
—Noah Zelvis
Macro Notes