Chainalysis experts expect annual stablecoin transaction volume to reach $1.5 quadrillion by 2035 if current trends hold. The forecast suggests digital assets could far exceed today’s cross-border payments market, which still relies on slow settlements and multiple intermediaries.
A key driver of this growth will be generational change. Analysts estimate that by 2048, baby boomers will pass down $100 trillion in assets. A significant share of this capital will go to millennials and Generation Z, for whom using cryptocurrency is a natural part of financial behavior.
“Blockchain has become the core technological foundation for the next era of global payments,” experts said, pointing to an inevitable transformation of money flows.
Blockchain vs Traditional Payment Systems
The integration of stablecoins into payment systems is expected to bring on-chain transaction volumes in line with Visa and Mastercard by the mid-2030s. Businesses will favor instant settlement and lower fees, making crypto payments a seamless, almost invisible background process for consumers.
Traditional corporations are already positioning themselves in this new economy. This is reflected in Stripe’s acquisition of Bridge and Mastercard’s partnership with BVNK. Banks and payment giants are increasingly integrating blockchain infrastructure to avoid losing liquidity as it shifts to decentralized payment protocols.