Regulated enterprise stablecoins are rapidly emerging as a new foundation for global commerce, according to a joint whitepaper by OSL Group and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Business School’s Centre for Digital Assets and Innovation.
The report says these digital assets are increasingly being used as payment infrastructure for cross-border trade, offering faster settlement and lower costs compared with traditional banking systems.
Stablecoins gain traction in global trade
The study highlights international trade as a key growth area, where enterprise-grade stablecoins can streamline transactions between major financial hubs like Hong Kong and developing markets with less mature payment systems.
Data from DefiLlama shows total stablecoin market capitalization exceeded US$323 billion as of May 2026. Annual settlement volume reached roughly US$33 trillion by the end of 2025, driven largely by business-to-business activity.
The report points to enterprise-focused tokens such as USDGO and OSL’s BizPay platform as examples of how regulated stablecoins are being integrated into payment operations. Researchers and industry participants worked together to assess how these assets can function within existing financial frameworks.
Shift from speculation to infrastructure
The findings reflect a broader shift in how stablecoins are being viewed. Rather than purely speculative tools, they are increasingly seen as core financial infrastructure supporting real economic activity.
Forecasts underline this trend. Juniper Research expects B2B cross-border payments using stablecoins to grow from $13.4 billion in 2026 to $5 trillion by 2035. Growth is being driven by enterprise-grade, compliant tokens tied to commercial use rather than market sentiment.
This has created a clear divide in the market between regulated, transparent stablecoins and less supervised alternatives. For traders, that distinction is becoming more relevant, particularly as capital flows toward assets aligned with regulatory frameworks.
USDC, for instance, has expanded its market capitalization by 72% year over year, outpacing USDT’s 36% growth, partly due to its compliance with evolving U.S. rules.
Faster settlement and lower costs drive adoption
Stablecoins are already demonstrating measurable advantages in payments. Transactions can settle in seconds with minimal fees, compared with traditional SWIFT transfers that can take one to five days and cost $25 to $50.
This efficiency is translating into real usage. Payment-focused projects on Polygon recorded $9.9 billion in transaction volume in the first half of 2026, surpassing the total for all of 2025.
The report emphasizes that this adoption is being driven by operational needs rather than speculative cycles, signaling a structural shift in how digital assets are used.
Hong Kong positions itself as a hub
Hong Kong is emerging as a key center for regulated stablecoin activity. Following the introduction of licensing rules in August 2025, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority approved its first two issuers in April 2026. The launch of Hong Kong dollar-pegged stablecoins is expected soon.
This regulatory clarity is encouraging real-world applications, including cross-border payments and tokenization of real-world assets, one of the fastest-growing areas in the digital economy.
Focus shifts to utility and real-world adoption
The report concludes that regulated enterprise stablecoins could play a significant role in markets with limited banking access or high transaction costs.
As adoption grows, attention is shifting toward payment corridors and tokenized assets rather than price stability alone. Some projections estimate the tokenized real-world asset market could reach nearly $19 trillion by 2033.
The broader implication is a redefinition of stablecoin value, centered on their role in building faster, more efficient, and compliant global payment networks.
To explore how compliant digital currencies power Asian trade, read why stablecoins matter in Asia today.
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