Tech giant Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta is preparing to re-enter the cryptocurrency sector in 2026 with a renewed strategy for integrating stablecoins, according to Coindesk sources inside the company.
The launch of a payment feature could take place as early as the first half of 2026. The company plans to implement token technology pegged to the US dollar for transactions within its core services.
Return Through Intermediaries
The initiative involves a major infrastructure update for over 3 billion users across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. Meta reportedly intends to introduce a new digital wallet and partner with an external vendor to manage transactions.
One source, speaking anonymously, said the active phase of integration is planned for summer 2026. The leading candidate for the partner role is fintech giant Stripe. Last year, Meta acquired the startup Bridge, which specializes in stablecoins.
Connections between the two companies extend to management: in April 2025, Stripe CEO Patrick Collison joined Meta’s board of directors. No official confirmation has been provided by either company.
Superapp Race
The rollout of its own payment system is expected to give Meta direct financial channels, bypassing traditional banks and their high fees. This move positions the company in direct competition with Elon Musk’s platforms Telegram and X, both of which are also aiming to become superapps.
Compared with the failed Libra project launched in 2019, Meta’s new approach appears more cautious. The original initiative faced strong regulatory resistance and a reputational crisis following the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
In 2022, the Diem project (Libra’s successor) was ultimately shut down and its assets sold off.
What has changed?
Overall, new conditions favor Meta’s plans, as the adoption of the GENIUS Act under the Donald Trump administration established a legal framework for stablecoin issuers. Meta, however, intends to maintain a hands-off approach, leveraging an external provider’s infrastructure.
This strategy aims to minimize legal risks and avoid the direct regulatory pressure that sank the company’s previous crypto ventures.
Regulators are still drafting detailed rules for issuers, and Meta wants to secure a position before the market is fully dominated by major financial players.
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