Andreessen Horowitz's venture capital arm, a16z Crypto, identifies 2025 as a critical milestone when stablecoins could become a foundational element of the global financial system. In a report published in March 2025, the firm links this transition to a combination of regulatory clarity, integration with traditional payment systems, and blockchain technology advancements. a16z envisions stablecoins not only as tools within the crypto market but also as a payment layer for global trade.
a16z Crypto's 2025 Forecast
a16z highlights several factors they believe have led to this turning point: improved regulations in major jurisdictions, active integration of payment systems, and increased blockchain scalability. The report emphasizes that it is the combination of these changes that creates conditions for widespread stablecoin use beyond the narrow crypto ecosystem. It also notes that parallel work on CBDCs adds further support to digital currencies as a viable concept.
Stablecoins as the Foundation of Global Trade
a16z predicts stablecoins will move beyond serving as trading pairs or volatility hedges to become a payment layer for international transactions. The report compares stablecoin network transaction volumes to those of major payment processors, underscoring their growing real-world utility. For context, see Ripple's estimates, which discuss stablecoin volumes and impact in 2025.
Benefits for International Payments
The report highlights speed and cost of transactions as key advantages: stablecoins can settle payments within minutes while being cheaper than traditional remittance corridors. This makes them attractive for remittances and B2B payments where speed and predictable fees matter. Additionally, in high-inflation regions, dollar-pegged stablecoins offer a more accessible store of value and medium of exchange compared to physical dollars.
Risks and Challenges
The report identifies several significant risks to broad stablecoin adoption, including regulatory uncertainty and AML/KYC requirements that complicate institutional acceptance. Another major risk is potential depegging events if issuer reserves prove insufficient or nontransparent; this remains a focus for regulators and auditors. In light of these issues, the Galaxy study also compares stablecoins with traditional payment channels and their growth potential in coming years.
Stablecoins vs. CBDCs
The report stresses that stablecoins and CBDCs differ by issuer and legal status: stablecoins are typically issued by private entities, whereas CBDCs are digital forms of national currency issued by central banks. CBDC projects provide additional validation for digital money concepts and often use similar technological principles. This creates space for coexistence of private and public digital currencies within the payment ecosystem.
Why This Matters
For miners, this shift may not be immediate or direct, but stablecoins becoming a payment layer increases the importance of on-chain activity and liquidity-related tools. Widespread stablecoin adoption also raises regulatory compliance demands for network services, indirectly affecting mining infrastructure and ecosystem. It’s important to understand that even without immediate changes, new partnership opportunities or operational requirements may arise.
What to Do?
Practical short steps for miners with 1–1000 devices: monitor changes in on-chain activity and payment use cases to spot growing network bandwidth demand. Consider AML/KYC regulatory requirements when working with providers and platforms where you store or convert earnings, and keep documentation ready for audits. Finally, assess risks of holding earnings in stablecoins: factor in issuer reserve transparency and possible depegging scenarios in your liquidity and accounting strategies.