Stablecoins Set To Outpace ACH Payments By 2026, Galaxy Forecasts - Crypto Economy

TLDR

• Galaxy Research estimates that stablecoin transaction volume will eclipse the ACH network in less than a year.
• The stablecoin market has reached a $309 billion capitalization with 40% annual growth.
• Institutions such as Sony, Western Union, and SoFi are launching their own digital assets for global payments.

According to the latest report from Galaxy Research, the global financial landscape is facing an imminent technological changing of the guard. This refers to stablecoin adoption in 2026, which is set to become a historic achievement by processing more transaction volume than the United States’ Automated Clearing House (ACH) system.

Currently, these digital assets already exceed the volume of traditional credit card networks like Visa and represent approximately half of the volume moved by the ACH system, consolidating themselves as the payment infrastructure of the future.

Regarding this, Thad Pinakiewicz, Vice President of Research at Galaxy, noted that the stablecoin supply maintains a compound annual growth rate of between 30% and 40%.

This momentum will be further bolstered by the implementation of regulatory frameworks such as the GENIUS Act in early 2026. This will provide the necessary clarity for stablecoin adoption in 2026 to spread massively among businesses and consumers.


TradFi and Tech Giants Join the Digital Dollar Race

The market, which currently boasts a $309 billion capitalization led by USDT and USDC, is seeing the entry of heavyweights from traditional finance (TradFi).

Western Union has already announced its “US Dollar Payment Token” on the Solana network, while Sony Bank is preparing a similar asset for the PlayStation ecosystem. Additionally, SoFi Technologies recently launched SoFiUSD on Ethereum, specifically designed for low-cost bank settlements.

Galaxy analysts predict that stablecoin adoption in 2026 will undergo a consolidation process. Users and merchants will not adopt an endless list of tokens; instead, they will opt for those offering the widest acceptance and security.

Furthermore, the report is optimistic regarding underlying assets, suggesting that Bitcoin could reach $250,000 by the end of 2027, though it warns that 2026 will be “chaotic” yet full of opportunities for blockchain infrastructure.

In summary, the transition toward a 24/7, borderless settlement system seems inevitable. With the backing of major corporations and a more robust legal framework, stablecoins will cease to be merely a trading tool and will become the backbone of the global digital economy.