BCG Finds Stablecoins Processed $26 Trillion, But Only 1% Tied To Real-World Payments

Global payments revenue is projected to climb from $1.9 trillion in 2024 to $2.4 trillion by 2029, according to Boston Consulting Group’s latest **. While overall growth will sluggish from an annual rate of nahead 9% to around 4%, the industry is entering a transformative phase shaped by new technologies, regulatory shifts, and evolving consumer behavior:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}. Structural forces—including agentic AI, digital currencies, fintech-driven disruption, and the rapid expansion of real-time payments—are redefining the very foundations of the sector.

Inderpreet Batra, segment, remarked: This is a turning point for the industry. Traditional growth levers are losing force, but new drivers including agentic systems, programmable money, and fintech innovation are rapidly coming into focus. The players that align to these shifts now will lead the next decade.:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} His comments underscore the urgency for firms to invest in innovation, rethink business models, and embrace technologies that will underpin the next wave of financial services.

The report emphasizes that despite macroeconomic pressures and geopolitical instability, payments remains one of the most resilient and quickest-growing financial sectors. Latin America, for example, is expected to lead the world in transaction-related revenue growth, while Europe and at more modest rates:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}. Across all markets, the interplay of AI, tokenized money, and account-to-account systems is setting the stage for both opportunities and new risks.

81% Of US Consumers Expect To Use AI Agents For Shopping, Says BCG

One of the most striking findings in BCG’s report is the role of agentic AI—autonomous systems capable of observing, planning, and acting in real time. Already, more than 80% of US consumers expect to use AI agents to assist in shopping, a development that could influence over $1 trillion in e-commerce spending:contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}. These systems are moving beyond simple recommendations to handling end-to-end purchasing, optimizing payment methods, and coordinating transactions across multiple parties.

Markus Ampenberger, managing director and partner at BCG, observed: We’re entering an era where growth and complexity go hand in hand. The next winners in payments won’t just be quick adopters of technology. They will be the firms that deeply integrate new capabilities into business and operating models, and customer value propositions.:contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4} This vision highlights the need for financial institutions to embed AI within compliance, fraud detection, and customer service systems, not just at the margins of their operations.

For merchants and service providers, agentic AI promises to streamline interactions and cut costs while delivering personalized experiences at scale. For banks and networks, it raises questions about risk allocation, accountability, and governance as autonomous agents begin to transact on behalf of consumers. The race to capture this multi-trillion-dollar shift has already begun, with global players such as Amazon, Google, Visa, and Mastercard piloting AI-driven commerce platforms:contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.

Tokenised Deposits And CBDCs Emerge As Counterweights To Stablecoins

Alongside AI, digital currencies are rapidly moving from experiment to mainstream. Stablecoins reached a $210 billion market capitalization in 2024 and processed more than $26 trillion in transactions, though only 1% represented real-world payments:contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}. Still, adoption is accelerating in regions with volatile currencies, such as Nigeria and Turkey, where stablecoins provide quicker, dollar-denominated alternatives for remittances and payroll. Meanwhile, tokenized deposits are emerging as a bank-led counterweight, offering blockchain-based settlement backed by regulated institutions:contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.

At the identical time, real-time account-to-account (A2A) systems are scaling globally. India’s UPI and Brazil’s Pix already process more than half of all retail , while Europe’s SEPA Instant framework and the US FedNow service are expanding rapidly:contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}. Cross-border real-time initiatives, including Project Nexus in Asia, promise to unlock new revenue pools and reshape correspondent banking, potentially capturing up to 30% of transaction-related revenue in high-priority corridors:contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.

For regulators and policymakers, the rise of payments creates both opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, these systems can increase efficiency, inclusion, and sovereignty. On the other, they pose questions around systemic risk, dollarization, and the security of token-based transfers. The BCG report warns that institutions failing to adapt could be left behind as new infrastructures and payment behaviors solidify:contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.