ARK Invest predicts that stablecoin transaction value in 2024 will surpass that of Visa and Mastercard

In a groundbreaking report published on February 4, ARK Invest revealed that stablecoin transaction volumes in 2024 have reached a staggering $15.6 trillion, surpassing the annual transaction values of both Visa and Mastercard by significant margins. This milestone marks a pivotal moment in the growth and adoption of stablecoins, which have become increasingly popular in recent years.

The report, part of ARK Invest’s “Big Ideas 2025” series, shows that stablecoins are gaining substantial traction as a means of transferring funds, with transaction values increasing by over 100% compared to previous years. In 2024, stablecoin transaction values outpaced Visa’s by 119% and Mastercard’s by 200%. Monthly stablecoin transactions amounted to approximately $110 million, surpassing the transaction volumes of these traditional payment giants. This growth suggests a growing preference for stablecoins among individuals and businesses for everyday transactions, signaling a shift toward blockchain-based payment systems.

ARK Invest highlighted that despite a two-year bear market and a substantial decline in the overall cryptocurrency market capitalization, stablecoin adoption has remained resilient and uninterrupted. In fact, the transaction value of stablecoins more than doubled from around $7 trillion in 2023 to $15.6 trillion in 2024.

Further breaking down stablecoin usage, December 2024 saw daily stablecoin transaction volumes hit $270 billion, with monthly volumes reaching a remarkable $2.7 trillion. This growth is being driven by the increasing use of stablecoins on major blockchains like Solana, Tron, Ethereum, and Base, which have become key contributors to the growing transaction volumes in the stablecoin space.

Additionally, the total market capitalization of stablecoins reached an all-time high of $204 billion in 2024, marking a 22% rise in value. This surge is notable as it aligns with recent developments in the U.S. regulatory landscape. Following the election of Donald Trump, David Sacks, Trump’s appointed “Crypto Czar,” suggested that stablecoins could play a critical role in bolstering the global dominance of the U.S. dollar. Furthermore, Senator Bill Hagerty introduced a new stablecoin bill, the “GENIUS Act,” which aims to create a regulatory framework for the growth of the stablecoin market in the United States.

These developments indicate that stablecoins are not only growing in adoption but also gaining political and regulatory support, positioning them to become an even more integral part of the global financial ecosystem in the coming years.