Stablecoin-based payment cards are emerging as one of the defining themes of the crypto landscape in 2026, according to a senior executive at crypto venture capital firm Dragonfly Management. The forecast comes amid a surge in investment and deployment activity around stablecoin payment infrastructure.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Dragonfly Managing Partner Haseeb Qureshi said:dstCards powered by Ablecoin are “growing like crazy around the world” and represent a broader trend of cryptocurrencies becoming more deeply integrated into global payment flows.
This happened as stablecoin trading reached new heights, fueled in part by favorable US policies under President Donald Trump, a supporter of cryptocurrencies. Total stablecoin trading volume surged 72% to $33 trillion, according to data compiled by Artemis Analytics Inc.
Qureshi recognized Rain as one of the fastest growing fintechs in the world
Qureshi’s comment on X began with Rain announcing that it had raised $250 million, bringing its valuation to $1.95 billion. He even referred to Rain as one of the fastest growing fintech companies in the world in his post. The company is one of many startups using stablecoins to enhance payments with faster settlements, lower costs, and broader international access.
Currently, the partners are visa network. Cardholders can make purchases and withdraw money, as well as access basic banking services, allowing fintechs to provide financial services in areas where the local currency is unreliable. The company currently has cards active in over 150 countries and supports stablecoins such as Tether (USDT) and USDC on several blockchain networks.
Qureshi said, “For many Rain users, especially in emerging markets, they don’t even know that it’s a virtual currency under the hood. All they know is that they can suddenly pay people, buy things with dollars, anytime, anywhere, and everything is ‘okay.’
Dragonfly participated in Rain’s latest funding round along with ICONIQ, Sapphire Ventures, Bessemer, Lightspeed, and Galaxy Ventures. Farooq Malik, Rain’s co-founder and CEO, said the latest funding “means we have more resources to license, submit to and actively engage with regulators as part of our continued global expansion.” The company will therefore focus on expanding its footprint across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa, keeping pace with changing global regulations.
Mornaut says stablecoins lack incentives such as exclusivity and rewards.
According to Bloomberg Intelligence, stablecoin payments are expected to grow by 81% compounded annually, reaching $56.6 trillion by 2030. But despite the hype and model predictions, some analysts remain unconvinced. Better Tomorrow Ventures GP Sheel Mohnot argues that stablecoin payments fall short of the incentives that have historically driven card adoption.
he saidWithout exclusivity and coercive enforcement features (rewards, credits), new payment networks cannot be built, and the current inertia is too strong. And current card-based point-of-sale systems aren’t really broken for most merchants and consumers in developed markets. ”
Nevertheless, Pantera Capital investor Mason Nystrom argues that stablecoins will dominate the fintech space, arguing that stablecoin payments offer instant payments and strong merchant protection.
On the other hand, in the US genius actthe Stablecoin Act spurred regulatory activity and prompted Canada and the UK to pursue their own frameworks. Additionally, Western Union plans to roll out its stablecoin payment system and stablecoin card on Solana to consumers in emerging markets in early 2026, with increasing adoption by institutional investors.
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