Is Everyone Getting Their Own Stablecoin Now?
Stablecoins, once considered an obscure offshoot of the crypto ecosystem, are now standing at the center of the next financial evolution. No longer reserved for crypto-native platforms, these blockchain-based digital currencies are increasingly being discussed in the boardrooms of America’s largest corporations. The latest names rumored to join the stablecoin conversation? Amazon and Walmart—two titans of global commerce.
According to an exclusive investigation published by The Wall Street Journal, both Amazon and Walmart are actively exploring the possibility of launching their own branded stablecoins. These internal discussions, while not yet confirmed publicly, suggest a growing interest among Fortune 500 companies in taking greater control of the financial systems underpinning their vast digital ecosystems.
If these companies do enter the stablecoin market, the implications could be enormous—not just for their customers and suppliers, but for the financial system as a whole. Let’s explore why this development is both timely and transformative.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon and Walmart are reportedly considering developing proprietary stablecoins, according to The Wall Street Journal.
- The move reflects a broader trend of corporations integrating stablecoins into business operations for efficiency and control.
- This shift could accelerate the mainstream adoption of digital currencies and reshape payment infrastructure globally.
Stablecoins: From Experiment to Economic Engine
At their core, stablecoins are digital currencies typically pegged to a stable reserve asset, such as the U.S. dollar. Unlike volatile cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, stablecoins are designed for stability, making them ideal for everyday transactions, cross-border payments, and internal settlements.
The market for stablecoins has matured dramatically in the past few years. In 2024, the global market capitalization for stablecoins exceeded $180 billion, while annual on-chain transaction volume reached a staggering $8 trillion. What’s notable is not just the growth, but the changing profile of users—from early adopters and crypto startups to multinational banks, payment processors, and now, potentially, retail giants.
Companies like Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal have already taken steps to incorporate stablecoins into their payment rails. The entrance of Amazon and Walmart into this space would signify a new phase—where stablecoins aren’t merely integrated by corporations but are issued by them.
Why Would Amazon and Walmart Launch Their Own Stablecoins?
1. Reducing Transaction Costs at Scale
Amazon and Walmart process hundreds of millions of transactions each year, much of which incurs significant fees through banks, credit card networks, and third-party payment platforms. These costs add up—especially at their scale.
In 2024, Amazon generated $638 billion in revenue, while Walmart brought in more than $100 billion. Even a marginal improvement in payment processing efficiency could lead to billions of dollars in savings.
Stablecoins offer the ability to settle payments instantly, bypass intermediaries, and minimize cross-border transaction fees. For global companies operating in dozens of currencies and jurisdictions, these efficiencies are incredibly appealing.
2. Building Customer Loyalty Through Ecosystem Integration
Imagine a world where you’re rewarded in Amazon Coins for streaming on Prime Video, buying groceries on Amazon Fresh, or purchasing books on Kindle. Or where Walmart Token grants you discounts at Sam’s Club, gives early access to online deals, or functions like a universal store credit across its network.
These are not far-fetched ideas.
By launching their own stablecoins, Amazon and Walmart could build loyalty ecosystems that are more flexible, programmable, and cross-functional than traditional rewards points. It also allows for seamless, consistent user experiences across platforms, geographies, and product lines—all while gathering valuable transactional data within their own networks.
3. Keeping Up with the Competitive Curve
Amazon and Walmart aren’t the only players eyeing the blockchain frontier. Shopify recently integrated USDC, one of the world’s largest stablecoins, into its payment infrastructure, potentially benefiting over five million merchants. Likewise, PayPal made headlines when it launched PYUSD, its own stablecoin, in 2023.
The message is clear: companies that move swiftly into this space can shape the future of payments. Those that lag risk falling behind in both innovation and market relevance.
Regulatory Hurdles and Opportunities
Despite the enthusiasm, issuing a stablecoin isn’t as simple as announcing a new product line. In the United States and beyond, regulatory frameworks for digital currencies are evolving—often rapidly.
The Financial Innovation Act, passed in late 2024 under the Biden administration, mandates that any U.S.-based stablecoin issuer must register with the Treasury, ensure full-reserve backing, and comply with stringent reporting requirements. There are also legal expectations tied to anti-money laundering, consumer protection, and systemic risk monitoring.
However, companies like Amazon and Walmart possess the legal teams, financial resources, and political clout to meet (and perhaps even influence) such regulatory standards. If anyone can navigate this new terrain, it’s these global behemoths.
Moreover, being among the first Fortune 500 companies to issue a stablecoin could offer strategic advantages in setting industry precedents, negotiating favorable terms, and forming early partnerships with regulatory bodies.
Could Retailers Become Financial Powerhouses?
What happens when a retailer becomes an issuer of a digital currency? The lines between commerce and finance begin to blur.
By issuing a stablecoin, Amazon and Walmart wouldn’t just be streamlining payments—they’d be stepping into roles historically reserved for banks, payment networks, and financial service providers.
This could mean:
- Consumers paying directly with Amazon/Walmart coins at checkout—online and in-store.
- Merchants and suppliers receiving payments instantly via blockchain.
- Global customers transacting without currency conversion fees or third-party banks.
- Entire micro-economies forming within Amazon or Walmart platforms, where the stablecoin becomes the default medium of exchange.
Such a shift would redefine financial inclusion, especially in regions with limited access to traditional banking. With their vast logistics and digital infrastructure, both companies could offer services that banks cannot—fast, low-cost, mobile-first transactions, even in remote areas.
Still Just Speculation—But Not Without Substance
It’s important to emphasize that, as of June 2025, neither Amazon nor Walmart has publicly confirmed plans to develop a stablecoin. These reports, while compelling, remain speculative.
That said, the pattern is hard to ignore. The motivations align with ongoing trends in digital transformation, fintech innovation, and consumer demand for simpler, faster, and more affordable payment systems.
The fact that companies of this scale are even entertaining the idea suggests a deeper truth: stablecoins are no longer fringe technologies. They are becoming a core pillar of 21st-century commerce.
Final Thoughts: A Financial Evolution in Real Time
The potential entry of Amazon and Walmart into the stablecoin space signals more than a passing interest in blockchain. It reflects a broader corporate realization that the future of money is digital, programmable, and decentralized—and that companies must evolve or risk irrelevance.
Stablecoins offer a compelling proposition: cost efficiency, speed, transparency, and brand loyalty, all rolled into one financial tool. If Amazon and Walmart choose to proceed, it could kick off one of the most significant shifts in how value moves through the global economy since the rise of credit cards or the creation of PayPal.
Whether we’ll be buying groceries with “Walmart Tokens” or streaming movies with “Amazon Coin” remains to be seen. But the stablecoin conversation is no longer theoretical. It’s actively unfolding, and its impact could be felt sooner—and more deeply—than many expect.