In the United States, younger generations are embracing stablecoins with enthusiasm, with crypto gradually making its way into the mainstream market.
Still, older individuals have tended to approach them with caution and scepticism. That is according to The Motley Fool’s 2025 Stablecoin Usage and Trends survey.
The poll found that half of the individuals surveyed are considering using stablecoins in their everyday purchases. That number increases for the younger population, with 71% of Gen Z and 60% of millennials willing to opt for crypto. But there was a sharp decline among older generations.
The understanding and practical application of stablecoins vary significantly, with approximately 20% of individuals indicating a complete grasp of their functionality.
As with usage, comprehension tends to decline rapidly among older demographics.
The differing perspectives across generations regarding stablecoins may pose a challenge to their broader acceptance. A greater percentage of men, approximately 60%, show a willingness to use stablecoins for everyday purchases compared to 41% of women.
The trends indicate that younger individuals and men exhibit a greater openness to cryptocurrency compared to older individuals and women, a pattern observed across the cryptocurrency sector.
Concerns over stablecoins' potential for general acceptability are heightened by the fact that older generations are showing less interest in using them for online purchases.
Stablecoins may benefit greatly from the involvement of the baby boomer and Generation X generations, who have more disposable income and purchasing power than younger generations.
Stablecoins Usage
About 25% of participants in the study acknowledged that they have made a purchase or investment with stablecoins. The utilization of stablecoins tends to be more prevalent among males and younger demographics, although the exact figures can vary from one survey to another.
Of the younger generations polled, 42% of Gen Zers and 34% of millennials said they have used a stablecoin. This is in stark contrast to the 14% of Gen Xers and 2% of boomers who made the same claim.
Lots more work will have to go into convincing businesses and customers to try out new forms of payment besides credit and debit.
Customers and businesses would be more likely to use stablecoins if they offered better privacy, quicker transactions, and lower costs than what's now available.
Cryptocurrency transactions, according to stablecoin proponents, may close much more quickly and do away with the processing costs that businesses pay every time a customer uses a debit or credit card.
While privacy is certainly a major factor, keep in mind that each transaction recorded on the blockchain may be traced back to a particular person if their wallet ID is known.
The fact that 41% of Gen Xers and 57% of baby boomers aren't considering using stablecoins as payment is a worrying sign.
Risks
Among poll respondents, concerns about using stablecoins for payments are prevalent and justified. Specifically, 38% of respondents are worried about price volatility, 31% about lack of general adoption, and 29% about inadequate regulation.
Although stablecoins are designed to hold a consistent value of 1:1 with the U.S. dollar, there have been scenarios of them losing that peg.
The UST of Terra in 2022 was the most infamous case since, although being declared stable, it quickly collapsed. Concerns about the reserves of USDT, a prominent stablecoin from Tether, are well-known and persist.
Businesses and individuals alike would experience massive financial chaos if stablecoins were to decouple from the dollar.
The widespread use of stablecoins is a prerequisite for customers to consider using cryptocurrencies instead of traditional payment methods. In the absence of broad adoption, stablecoins will most likely remain a niche financial tool.
The Genius Act, passed in July 2025, laid the framework for future stablecoin supervision, which is in its early stages.
Issuers of stablecoins are now required by law to maintain reserves equal to one dollar for every stablecoin they issue. The bill also requests the development of further regulatory measures, suggesting that the regulatory environment still needs change.
Familiarity with Stablecoins
Grasping the mechanics of stablecoins is crucial for widespread acceptance, as many consumers and merchants may feel uneasy engaging in transactions without a clear understanding of how to manage their funds, replenish their crypto wallets, or convert real dollars to crypto and back again.
With 56% of respondents indicating a strong or moderate acquaintance with stablecoins, the results of the survey suggest a good trajectory for these digital assets.
Stablecoins are something that 22% of people have heard of, but just 23% really comprehend.
There is a decrease in understanding among the elderly.
Millennials and Generation Z both have 27% who are extremely informed about stablecoins, and more than 40% who are somewhat familiar.
On the other hand, just 21% of baby boomers said they are somewhat aware of stablecoins, and none of them claimed to be extremely educated. A whopping 41% of baby boomers said they've never heard of them.
The proof is in the numbers: millennials and Gen Zers are really excited about stablecoins, but women and older generations are still being cautious.
Concerns about the large purchasing power of Generation X and baby boomers raise legitimate questions about the potential impact of scepticism on the broad adoption of stablecoins.
Privacy, speed, and costs are boosting stablecoin acceptance, but volatility and lack of knowledge are major obstacles.
Given this, consumer education may be just as important as government actions in encouraging the use of stablecoins.
Blockcast – Licensed to Shill: How Energy & Geopolitics Are Building a Bitcoin-Driven World, ft. Bitcoin Arabia's Lara Eggimann & Jeff Gorman
The Middle East is poised to become a pivotal hub in the global cryptocurrency ecosystem. Countries within the region are increasingly recognizing the strategic importance of integrating blockchain technology into their economic frameworks, energy markets, and geopolitical strategies, according to Lara Eggimann and Jeff Gorman, co-founders of Bitcoin Arabia , a strategic Bitcoin advisory and ecosystem builder that connects the global Bitcoin industry with the Middle East’s most powerful stakeholders.
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