Stablecoin News – On July 9, 2025, reports surfaced that retail giants Walmart and Amazon are exploring stablecoin projects, spurred by increasing regulatory clarity and the Trump administration’s crypto-friendly policies. The GENIUS Act, set for a House vote in mid-July, would allow non-financial companies to issue stablecoins through regulated financial entities, paving the way for retail adoption.
With stablecoins like USDT and USDC commanding a $250 billion market, Walmart and Amazon aim to leverage these digital assets to streamline payments and reduce transaction fees.
Stablecoins, pegged to fiat currencies, offer instant, low-cost settlements, making them attractive for retail giants with global supply chains.
Walmart, already experimenting with blockchain for logistics, could integrate a stablecoin into its payment systems, enabling seamless transactions for customers and suppliers.
Amazon, with its vast e-commerce ecosystem, is reportedly exploring a stablecoin to enhance its Amazon Pay service, competing with traditional payment providers like Visa and Mastercard, which have integrated USDC.
The GENIUS Act’s requirements for 1:1 reserve backing and AML compliance align with the retailers’ need for regulatory legitimacy.
However, critics, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, warn that allowing tech giants to issue stablecoins risks market monopolies and financial instability. The bill restricts non-financial companies from direct issuance unless partnered with regulated entities, addressing concerns about banking-commerce separation.
Analysts see Walmart and Amazon’s potential entry as transformative, potentially fragmenting the stablecoin market with proprietary tokens. This could enhance consumer convenience but raise interoperability challenges.
With stablecoin transactions hitting $28 trillion in 2024, surpassing Visa and Mastercard combined, the retail giants’ move signals a shift toward mainstream crypto adoption, driven by regulatory progress and market demand.
