Stablecoin Volumes Could Hit $1.5 Quadrillion by 2035: Chainalysis Report

Stablecoin volumes could reach $1.5 quadrillion by 2035, driven by generational wealth transfer and increasing retail adoption, according to a report by Chainalysis.

Currently, stablecoins process around $28 trillion annually, already surpassing many traditional payment systems. This suggests stablecoins could become a core global payment infrastructure within the next decade.

Stablecoins Growing Faster Than Traditional Payments

According to the Chainalysis report titled “The $100 Trillion Wealth Shift,” stablecoins are already handling massive economic activity. Adjusted stablecoin volume reached $28 trillion in 2025, reflecting real payments, settlements, and remittances.

If this growth continues at the current pace alone, volumes could reach $719 trillion by 2035. 

To understand the scale, as of now, Visa processes about $13 trillion annually, while Mastercard handles around $9 trillion. Combined, that is roughly $22 trillion per year. Stablecoins could surpass that range sometime between 2031 and 2039.

However, Chainalysis says two major structural forces could push the number even higher to around $1.5 quadrillion.

$100 Trillion Wealth Transfer Could Drive Adoption

First is the historic generational wealth shift. Between 2028 and 2048, around $100 trillion is expected to move from Baby Boomers to Millennials and Gen Z.

Nearly half of the younger generations already hold or have used crypto. As this wealth moves, a portion is expected to flow into on-chain systems rather than traditional banks.

Chainalysis estimates this generational shift alone could add $508 trillion in annual stablecoin volume by 2035.

Stablecoins Becoming Default Payment Method

The second driver is stablecoin acceptance at the point of sale. Today, using crypto for payments requires extra steps. But as merchants integrate stablecoin rails, payments could become as simple as swiping a card.

This transition mirrors how credit cards replaced cash over time. Stablecoin rails also offer faster settlement and lower transaction costs for merchants.

The report estimates that point-of-sale adoption alone could add another $232 trillion in annual volume by 2035.

What Next For Stablecoins

In the short term, stablecoin usage is expected to grow steadily with increased adoption.

If current trends continue:

• Stablecoins could surpass traditional payment volumes between 2031 and 2039
• They may become a default payment method globally

However, growth depends on regulation and infrastructure development.

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