As a ‘returner’ to the payments sector, it’s been interesting to see how far it’s come in such a short space of time — particularly with innovations like stablecoins shaking things up. If we’re all honest with ourselves, it’s never been perceived as the ‘sexiest’ subsector – particularly when compared to the ‘high stakes’ worlds of corporate and private banking. In a life beyond MI6, James Bond was never going to work in payments, was he? Or was he!?
Fast forward to 2025 and your perception could well be changed. Payments feels like exactly where the action is right now. In fact, I’d go as far to say the sector is starting to feel like the crucible on which new technologies are being reshaped and reevaluated to make real societal impact – not just perpetuate the cycle of ‘get rich quick’ shortcuts, easy wins and digital slop we’ve seen disseminated to a larger extent in other sectors.
When it comes to the fusion of sophisticated tech, payments, and the promise of a seismic shift for the sector, stablecoins hold big promise. In fact, recent stats state that B2B payments using stablecoins surged from under US$100 million monthly in early 2023 to over US$3 billion per month in 2025.
Making money move faster, cheaper, and across borders with ease – all whilst being pegged to a fiat currency – is very much the name of the game with this particular vehicle. But despite the technology, the talent, and the growing regulatory clarity, one thing remains elusive: trust.
Encouragingly though, regulation is catching up. Frameworks like MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) in Europe and the US’s proposed ‘Genius Act’ are putting the legal scaffolding in place to make stablecoins a compliant and credible part of the global payments ecosystem. For the first time, we’re seeing serious alignment between innovation and oversight. That’s why we’re also witnessing major players – including global card schemes and established financial institutions – acquiring, partnering, and investing in the space. These moves show that the industry is starting to treat stablecoins seriously, not just as an experiment, but as an inevitable next step in digital value transfer.
However, for all the innovation, stablecoins still face a communication problem. Maybe it’s just my naïve perspective as the ‘prodigal son of payments,’ but I truly believe it needs a comms facelift to gain the traction it needs. When I say ‘facelift’ maybe I just mean a shot of Botox; after all the structure seems fine, it just needs to look a bit more approachable.
Many consumers (and dare I say it, even professionals in the payments ecosystem) don’t fully understand the concept of stablecoin. To some, they’re just another crypto product in disguise – by that I mean risky, opaque, and linked to the same volatility that’s burned so many investors over the years.
Unfortunately, that’s a problem no amount of technical jiggery pokery can fix. Because in payments, as with money itself, trust is the ultimate currency (excuse the pun).
It’s ironic that the very name of this financial vehicle itself – “stablecoin” – was supposed to inspire confidence. Yet after the collapse of algorithmic models like TerraUSD, even the word “stable” has become contested in some quarters. While asset-backed stablecoins have grown in credibility – with regulated entities like PayPal, Circle, and others moving into the space – they’re still facing an uphill battle in the court of public opinion.
Part of this stems from crypto’s broader reputation. For years, the sector has been plagued by hype, speculation, and bad actors (Trump Coin anyone!?). The result? A lingering trust deficit that bleeds into every conversation about digital assets, regardless of how legitimate or compliant they may be.
But there’s also a communications gap. Stablecoin projects have often been guilty of talking to themselves – to developers, investors, and insiders – rather than to the audiences who matter most: the regulators, merchants, media and consumers who will ultimately decide their fate.
Breaking out of the back slapping echo chamber is key. To build trust in stablecoins, we need more storytelling.
From a communications perspective, the path forward is clear – and familiar. We’ve seen it before in other areas of payments. Remember the early scepticism around ‘Chip & PIN’? Contactless cards? Or even the security fears that once surrounded online banking? (Yes, unfortunately I am old enough to remember all of these!). Each time, it wasn’t just technology that won people over – it was communication too.
In my humble opinion, here’s what the stablecoin sector needs to do next:
1. Spare us the technical chat
Stablecoins are too often defined by their technical mechanisms rather than their practical benefits. The industry needs to translate jargon into plain language – showing, not telling, how stablecoins can solve real problems, such as reducing remittance costs or enabling 24/7 settlement. Ultimately, what’s in it for the user. It’s probably an obvious tip, but if I had a stablecoin for every time I’d seen this missed…!
2. Transparency
Trust doesn’t grow in silence. Projects must proactively communicate how reserves are managed, who regulates them, and what safeguards exist. Transparency must become a communications strategy, not just a compliance checkbox.
3. Education over evangelism
Some people in payments still see stablecoins as speculative crypto instruments rather than a new class of digital money. Educating audiences – from merchants to policymakers – through credible, accessible narratives is key to shifting perception from risk to reliability.
4. Credibility through association
Strategic partnerships, endorsements from trusted institutions, and thought leadership across reputable media channels will all play a vital role in reframing the conversation. Credibility, after all, is contagious.
To date, much of the stablecoin narrative has been defensive – responding to crises, clarifying misconceptions, or explaining away failures that weren’t even their own. That needs to change.
The next phase must be proactive and positive: telling the story of stablecoins not as speculative instruments but as an evolution of money itself. After all everything else is going digital (…even thinking if you want to go down that particular AI rabbit hole…), so I find it hard to believe that stablecoins aren’t a substantial step in an inevitable direction.
At SkyParlour, we’ve helped redefine trust for the payments players now leading this charge. The next evolution of money deserves clearer voices and we’re here to help craft them. It’s something we not only believe but can actively support in bringing about […subtle plug ends].
Here’s a parting thought…if technology makes stablecoins possible, then I fully believe communication, done well, will make them inevitable.