Visa survey: stablecoin interest jumps when bank-level protections are added
Most Americans still unfamiliar with stablecoins, Visa finds
A new Visa survey found that American interest in using stablecoins would jump from 36% to 56% if those digital tokens came with bank-level fraud protection and deposit insurance. The same survey, however, showed that 56% of U.S. adults had never heard of stablecoins.
Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency designed to hold a steady value, usually pegged to the U.S. dollar. The findings suggest that consumer familiarity, not just product design, may be a barrier to wider use.
Key numbers from the survey
- Willingness to use stablecoins rises from 36% to 56% when paired with hypothetical bank-level fraud protection and deposit insurance.
- Willingness to use stablecoins rises from 36% to 45% when they are offered through an existing financial provider.
- 64% of respondents said trust depends more on the payment provider than the underlying technology.
- 61% of respondents said they trust traditional commercial banks to provide digital currency services, and 60% said the same about global payment networks.
- 56% of respondents had never heard of stablecoins.
- Some respondents who had heard of stablecoins incorrectly assumed their value fluctuates like bitcoin.
What Visa's report covers
The report is titled Money Travels 2026. It is based on a Morning Consult survey of 2,192 U.S. adults conducted between February 24 and March 2. Visa said respondents were given definitions of key terms, including stablecoins, before answering questions. The payments company shared the findings in a statement reported by The Block.
Stablecoin market context
Stablecoins have grown into a large pool of digital-dollar liquidity. According to The Block's data dashboard, the total supply of U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins is above $295 billion. Tether's USDT accounts for about $183.4 billion of that supply, while Circle's USDC is near $76 billion.
Earlier in September 2026, Visa said its stablecoin settlement volume had surpassed a $20 billion annualized run rate, up more than 15 times from a year earlier. The company also said more than 160 stablecoin-linked card programs are live worldwide.
What is confirmed
- Visa released a report called Money Travels 2026 based on a Morning Consult survey of 2,192 U.S. adults.
- The survey found stated willingness to use stablecoins rises when bank-style protections or existing financial providers are involved.
- The stablecoin market has grown past $295 billion in total U.S. dollar-pegged supply, according to The Block's data.
What is still unclear
The survey measured stated intent in a hypothetical scenario rather than actual stablecoin use. It is not clear whether consumers who say they would use stablecoins under these conditions would do so in practice once they understand how stablecoins work.
Sources
Newisty Editorial Team covers technology, cryptocurrency, digital products, online platforms, developer tools and the wider digital economy. Our content is researched from official sources, company announcements, public documentation, market data and other primary or reputable sources. Articles are reviewed and edited before publication for clarity, accuracy and useful context.