New research released by FIS, a global financial technology company, indicates that traditional banks are well positioned to drive stablecoin adoption among American consumers. Nearly three-quarters (74.8%) of surveyed U.
S. consumers expressed openness to trying digital currency services if offered by their primary bank, a notable contrast to the 3.6% who would feel comfortable adopting from unregulated providers. The study, based on a survey of 1,000 U.
S. consumers, identified widespread payment frustrations that generate demand for alternatives, alongside significant trust and knowledge gaps that established financial institutions are positioned to address.
Himal Makwana, global head of Corporate Strategy at FIS, stated, “The path to consumer stablecoin adoption runs directly through traditional banking. Banks have a unique opportunity to capture a market where 75% of consumers say they’d try digital currency if offered by their bank. Consumers are demanding the speed and efficiency of instant settlement, but only when wrapped in the trust and safeguards that traditional institutions provide.”
The research highlighted persistent pain points in everyday payments. Over two-thirds (67.6%) of consumers surveyed reported at least one payment problem in the past six months, with slow processing for online purchases (41.9%), high fees for sending money to family and friends (35.3%), and card declines at checkout (30.2%) being common issues. These challenges translate into a willingness to experiment, as 70.8% of respondents would consider switching payment methods to solve their most frustrating experiences. Additionally, 88% find stablecoin features such as instant transfers, lower fees, and 24/7 availability appealing.
Despite strong interest in stablecoin capabilities, the study found that U.
S. consumer adoption is contingent on trust and regulatory comfort. More than half (53.9%) of respondents view banks offering stablecoins as a positive development, and the majority desire traditional financial safeguards for digital currency. Specifically, 77.4% believe stablecoins should be regulated like traditional payment methods, and 66.3% indicated that FDIC-style insurance would increase their likelihood of use. Security and privacy concerns were the top barriers to adoption, both cited by 42.4% of respondents, while 42% expressed concern about value volatility, suggesting a potential misunderstanding of stablecoins’ core proposition that could be addressed through education.
Beyond trust and understanding, the research identified merchant acceptance as a significant hurdle. Over half (52.7%) of surveyed consumers require at least half of all merchants to accept digital currency before they would seriously consider using it themselves. Peer-to-peer payments (45.1%) and online shopping (44.3%) were identified as the primary intended uses for stablecoins, while international money transfers, despite being a current strength of stablecoin infrastructure, attracted interest from only 11.9% of respondents.
Jon Briggs, global head of Embedded Solutions and Money Movement at FIS, commented, “Stablecoins have demonstrated their value for cross-border transactions. Our research shows consumers are eager to apply those same benefits – instant settlement, lower fees, 24/7 availability – to domestic transactions. Tokenized deposits, a bank deposit-friendly variation of stablecoins, provide banks an opportunity to move quickly and safely to meet consumer demand while preserving their deposit base and leveraging network effects.”
The research was based on an online survey conducted in October 2025 by FIS, involving 1,000 U.
S. consumers aged 18 and older, employed fulltime, and from diverse regions, income levels, and demographic backgrounds. The survey assessed awareness, understanding, concerns, and likelihood of adoption for stablecoins and other digital payment methods. The results are self-reported and subject to the standard limitations of survey research.
FIS (NYSE: FIS) is a financial technology company that provides solutions to financial institutions, businesses, and developers. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, FIS is a member of the Fortune 500® and the Standard & Poor’s 500® Index.
