
Stablecoin Payments Surge 45% as Mastercard, Visa, and Stripe Bridge Crypto to Cash
Stablecoin payments reached $482 billion in 2026, driven by major payment firms integrating digital currencies with traditional banking systems.
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Latest business news, analysis and developments related to Crypto, with a focus on Europe, Latin America and cross-Atlantic business.
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Stablecoin payments reached $482 billion in 2026, driven by major payment firms integrating digital currencies with traditional banking systems.

France’s proposed 31.4% tax on swaps into EU-regulated stablecoins may push crypto traders toward unregulated offshore markets, raising questions for European crypto oversight.

French lawmakers aim to impose an exit tax on crypto holdings above €800,000 and steep fines for undeclared wallets, raising compliance and capital flight concerns.

Germany leads the EU in MiCA-authorized crypto providers, but the Baltic states are emerging as pivotal hubs for crypto payment infrastructure, reshaping Europe's market dynamics.

The European Central Bank is pressing for stricter EU crypto regulation, including a broader ban on stablecoin interest and enhanced oversight of dollar-linked tokens.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has blocked Binance from operating in the EU, underlining a stricter regulatory approach to cryptocurrency exchanges and bolstering the case for a digital euro.

Italy’s UniCredit is exploring crypto custody, joining a wave of European banks expanding into digital assets as new EU rules reshape the sector.

Bitcoin has suffered a sharp correction, falling more than 25% over the past month as long-term investors take profits, market sentiment weakens and traders reassess expectations for the cryptocurrency sector.

A growing share of European investors say access to cryptocurrencies could influence their choice of bank, signaling rising pressure on traditional financial institutions to expand digital asset services.