Forecasts suggest that stablecoins could surpass the US Automated Clearing House system in transaction volume by 2026, driven by clearer regulations and increasing adoption rates.
Galaxy Research, the analytical division of Galaxy Digital, highlighted existing transaction statistics and emerging regulatory frameworks to back its forecast. It noted that “stablecoin transactions currently outpace major credit card networks like Visa and are processing approximately half the transaction volume of the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system.”
Thad Pinakiewicz, vice president of research, mentioned that the stablecoin supply has been growing at a compound annual growth rate of 30%–40%, with transaction volumes increasing in tandem. Galaxy also indicated that the anticipated enforcement of definitions under the GENIUS Act in early 2026 will further support the expansion of stablecoin usage.
The report also includes projections for Bitcoin (BTC) prices, stating it could hit $250,000 by the end of 2027. According to Alex Thorn, head of firmwide research at Galaxy, 2026 is “too chaotic to predict, though it remains possible for Bitcoin to reach new all-time highs that year.”
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Growth of the Dollar-Pegged Stablecoin Market
As per data from DefiLlama, the total market cap of stablecoins is approximately $309 billion. While Tether’s USDt (USDT) and Circle’s USDC (USDC) continue to lead the market, a rising number of financial institutions and payments providers have recently entered the stablecoin sector.
In October, Western Union revealed plans to introduce its own US dollar-pegged stablecoin, the US Dollar Payment Token, built on the Solana blockchain and issued by Anchorage Digital Bank as part of a larger digital asset settlement framework.
Sony Bank is reportedly working on a US dollar-pegged stablecoin aimed for use throughout Sony’s US ecosystem, encompassing PlayStation games, subscriptions, and anime content, slated to launch in 2026.
Recently, SoFi Technologies launched SoFiUSD, a US dollar stablecoin fully backed by reserves and issued by its banking entity, SoFi Bank. The company announced the token will be available on Ethereum and aims to facilitate low-cost settlements for banks, fintech companies, and enterprise platforms.
Galaxy Research associate Jianing Wu expressed expectations that TradFi-linked stablecoins will see consolidation in 2026, as users and merchants will likely prefer a limited selection of digital dollars, primarily those with the most extensive acceptance.
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