Data from Visa and Allium show retail-sized stablecoin transfers under $250 reached a record $5.84 billion in August 2025. This milestone exceeds the total for any single month in crypto history and underscores stablecoins’ growing role in everyday transactions. The rise was driven by users in emerging economies searching for faster, cheaper alternatives to traditional banking channels, where fees and delays remain a significant barrier to cross-border and micro payments.
Binance Smart Chain led the growth, capturing nearly 40 percent of all retail stablecoin activity. BSC’s transaction count jumped 75 percent year-to-date, while volume climbed 67 percent. This surge followed Binance’s decision to delist USDT for European users, which prompted users to flock back to BSC for its support of multiple stablecoins and low fees. PancakeSwap and other DEX platforms on BSC saw increased trading as memecoin and small-value transactions rebounded.
Ethereum and its layer-2 ecosystems also saw substantial gains. Combined, Ethereum mainnet and layer 2 networks accounted for over 20 percent of retail transfer volume and 31 percent of transaction count. Mainnet transfers under $250 rose 81 percent in volume and 184 percent in count, fueled by a 70 percent reduction in average gas fees over the past year. Lower costs have made Ethereum viable for smaller payments once reserved for high-value transfers.
Survey data from CEX.io covering more than 2 600 respondents in Nigeria, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Indonesia revealed that 70 percent of users increased stablecoin usage over the past year. More than three-quarters expect usage to continue rising as banking fees remain elevated and remittance corridors stay congested. A majority cited transaction speed and transparency as key reasons for adoption, while respondents also highlighted stablecoins’ resistance to local currency devaluation.
Tron saw a decline in retail stablecoin activity, losing 1.3 million transactions and falling behind both BSC and Ethereum for the first time. Tron’s monthly transaction count dropped 6 percent, and growth lagged peers. The shift suggests that retail users prioritize networks that balance low fees with ecosystem support.
Emerging market regulators have taken note. Some central banks are exploring digital currency pilots, while others have issued warnings on unlicensed stablecoin issuers. Despite regulatory uncertainty, the trend indicates stablecoins are becoming embedded in consumer finance. As stablecoin rails mature, they may challenge traditional payment systems and reshape cross-border commerce.
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