Lydian, the stablecoin payments specialist, has revealed new insights on consumer preferences towards stablecoins. The Digital Asset Appetite Index surveyed consumers from key regions across South America, Africa, and Asia to uncover the opportunities and barriers in using stablecoins as a payment option. The findings come at a time when major industry players are driving increased stablecoin adoption.
The inaugural Index surveyed 7,500 consumers across Argentina, The Philippines, Indonesia, Kenya, and the UAE. The research found that over three-quarters (76%) are likely to use stablecoins for small everyday purchases, while a similar amount (73%) would use them to pay recurring bills. Thirty per cent of non-stablecoin users plan to adopt stablecoins in the future.
Stablecoin usage is going beyond a consumer preference and into practical application. The research found that a third (33%) had used stablecoins for payments or transfers in the past month. Stablecoins are so desired that 72% would actively choose retailers if this payment was an option alongside cash and card.
Financial uncertainty and costly transaction fees are the main motivators for this trend. Over three-quarters (76%) say inflation reduced their purchasing power over the past year. Meanwhile, 71% view an everyday payment method that protects against currency devaluation as “Very” or “Extremely” valuable, and 73% would use stablecoins internationally to avoid FX markups and transaction fees.
In a period where major international banks have launched their own stablecoins and significant investment is taking place to expand stablecoin adoption in emerging markets, this data highlights that consumer demand is reflecting industry developments.
Carl Grimstad, CEO at Lydian, says: “We discount everyday stablecoin usage because we look at it from a purely Western perspective. But when you look at these emerging and frontier regions, you have a different starting point. Not everyone has access to credit cards, but people may already have money sitting in a digital wallet. If that’s where your customer holds their money, there’s a clear commercial reason to enable them to spend it. This Index supports that trend, but also highlights how significant the appetite for adoption is. We’re not talking about random, one-off stablecoin purchases but a full spectrum of payments – from morning coffee to monthly rent.”
