US corporations such as Amazon and Walmart want to revolutionize the payment system. According to recent reports, they are working on minting their own digital currencies –Stablecoins. These promise faster payment processing, lower transaction costs, and complete control over payment flows. This is reason enough for German SMEs to take a closer look at the technology, say Franz Wenzel, Stella Weisser, and Tom Agsten from enomyc. The three have been working on blockchain and crypto topics for a long time and were on site at the Berlin Blockchain Week 2025 (BBW) to discuss and interact with other teams about the current trends and applications. In this article, they explain what is behind this trend toward digital payments—and how blockchain, Web3, and digital currencies is being translated into real business models.
A new pair of jeans? Sneakers for the summer? Tickets for an open-air concert? When we buy something and pay for it, it's not just the retailer who benefits, but usually also the card provider, the bank, or another payment processor. That's because they always earn a share of the profits. According to one study, US retailers paid more than $93 billion in processing fees to providers such as Visa and Mastercard in 2022 alone.
But that could soon be a thing of the past. The use of blockchain technology and stablecoins can drastically reduce fees. At the same time, everything is much faster, because instead of the usual one to three days, payments can then be processed in real time. Stablecoins therefore have the potential to fundamentally change the financial world and the e-commerce sector in particular – not least with regard to the acceptance of cryptocurrencies in mass business. A disruption with advance warning?
What are stablecoins and why are they important?
Stablecoins are digital currencies that are stable in their value and linked to real assets such as the US dollar or the Euro. A stablecoin therefore has the value of one US dollar or one Euro. Stablecoins are thus a kind of bridge between the digital cryptocurrency world and the analog world, where payments are made in US dollars or Euros. This distinguishes them from traditional cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, whose values often fluctuate greatly. This stability makes them particularly interesting for companies interested in fast and inexpensive payments.
Stablecoins have been used for some time in various areas, like international transfers, decentralized finance, and trading on crypto markets. The advantage: transactions are fast, inexpensive, and can be made regardless of bank opening hours. For example, USDT (Tether) or USDC (USD Coin) can be transferred worldwide within minutes. Stablecoins are therefore not a new invention or technology, but an important step toward a more decentralized and efficient payment infrastructure.
The following four types of stablecoins can be distinguished:
- Fiat-backed stablecoins such as USDC, USDT, EURC or EURe: These stablecoins are backed by real currency.
- Crypto-backed stableoins such as DAI, which are backed by other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum.
- Commodity-backed stablecoins, which are backed by gold, for example.
- Algorithmic stablecoins, which regulate supply and demand via smart contracts.
Stablecoins primarily serve as a medium of transaction between traditional financial systems and next-generation infrastructures, particularly in the Web3 space.
Why corporations are developing their own stablecoins
Amazon and Walmart, as well as many other companies, are currently testing stablecoins with the aim of making their payment infrastructure more independent, faster, and cheaper. By bypassing traditional payment providers, transaction costs can be significantly reduced. At the same time, companies expect efficiency gains through real-time transactions and international scalability.
Another advantage of stablecoins is the ability to strengthen customer data sovereignty – for example, through integration into loyalty systems, points collections, and customer analytics. Blockchain-based stablecoins enable transparent transactions in which customers have more control over their data via wallets, while companies gain precise insights into purchasing behavior. One example of this is Starbucks with its innovative Odyssey program based on Web3 technology, which links NFT-based “Journey Stamps” with stablecoin payments. This is possible because blockchain offers immutable, decentralized data processing and stablecoins guarantee stable, fast payments by using smart contracts that automatically and securely link transactions and data flows.
Other interesting starting points for companies include new revenue models such as micropayments, token incentives, cashbacks, and smart discounts. By issuing their own stablecoins, corporations could control entire payment chains and thus set new market standards. Such stablecoins also promote innovative business models by seamlessly and automatically integrating processes into global ecosystems. The latest market developments seem to prove the concept right, at least exceeding even optimistic expectations: The global market capitalization of all stablecoins recently exceeded the $250 billion mark – and the trend is still rising.
Consumers also benefit from stablecoins, as they enable faster, cheaper and, thanks to smart contracts, flexibly adaptable payment processes. Personalized bonuses, individual discounts, or customized payment models can be integrated directly into the system – especially in e-commerce or subscription services. The downside for payment service providers, banks, and card providers is that they are coming under increasing cost and margin pressure because merchants could take over the entire payment chain. If payment transactions do become platform-based, a new gatekeeper will emerge: the retailer itself.
Not a privilege of tech giants
In addition to Amazon and Walmart, numerous players are already involved in stablecoin development. Banks such as JPMorgan are testing their own stablecoins with JPM Coin and SocGen, but technology companies such as Meta, Apple, PayPal, and Circle are also active. Central banks have also recognized the relevance of the issue: over 100 countries are currently testing central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). These digital currencies, issued by central banks, could change the way payments are processed in the long term. This makes them direct competitors to private stablecoins. The entire infrastructure is currently undergoing extremely dynamic change, both in the real economy and on the various platforms, as well as with regard to regulatory issues.
In the US, the GENIUS Act serves as a legal framework for stablecoins that regulates transparency, reserve requirements, and consumer rights. In the EU, the MiCA Regulation has been in force since mid-2023, which, among other things, requires stablecoins to be fully backed by reserves.
In addition, strict transparency and risk management requirements apply, while non-euro-backed stablecoins are limited. This means that companies wishing to use stablecoins in Europe must create structurally sound regulatory frameworks and consider new value chains. This is a major challenge – and was therefore one of the key topics of discussion at this year's Berlin Blockchain Week.
Europe: Ahead in regulation, hesitant in technology
With MiCA, the EU is clearly ahead of the US in terms of regulation, but it tends to be reactive when it comes to technology. Although the European Central Bank is working on a digital Euro, private initiatives are still subject to restrictive regulation. This offers opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises: In pilot projects, for example with regional banks or fintechs such as Solaris, blockchain-based stablecoins such as USDC can be tested in payment processes. This allows companies to build up valuable expertise. Proprietary token economies, for example based on stable tokens pegged to the euro such as Monerium's EURe e-money, can make an important contribution to improving customer loyalty. In addition, the integration of digital payment methods into existing ERP and CRM processes, for example through SAP or Salesforce modules, enables the seamless processing of micropayments or automated cashbacks. This makes many processes significantly more efficient and allows for precise analysis of customer behavior. After all, stablecoins are not an end in themselves, but should be used as a tool for strategic differentiation.
SMEs: Find out now and seize opportunities
Amazon, Walmart, and others are leading the way. The question is: Who will follow? For German SMEs, this development presents not only risks, but above all opportunities to build up expertise in good time and tap into new business models.
Blockchain Week in Berlin repeatedly demonstrates how close vision and implementation now are. This year, with more than 100 decentralized events, the capital once again transformed into a global center for blockchain innovation, bringing together developers, investors, and thought leaders. Particularly noteworthy are the practical discussions on topics such as digital sovereignty, AI integration, and real-world asset tokenization, which also addressed specific applications for business and society. The event, which is supported by initiatives such as w3.hub and the Blockchain Bundesverband, underscores Berlin's role as a European hotspot for web3 technologies.
Once again, it became clear that companies that invest in new technologies at an early stage have numerous opportunities to differentiate and scale up. Applications presented in Berlin included a supply chain platform that makes sustainable materials traceable for companies such as BMW, and a fintech solution from Kreuzberg that gives medium-sized companies direct access to global capital markets. One startup presented a platform for tokenizing real estate, which allows small investors to purchase shares in commercial properties. In addition, a team of developers demonstrated how AI-supported smart contracts can automate contract processes in logistics, for example by making real-time adjustments in the event of delivery delays. Innovations like these are enabling new business models and giving companies a real competitive edge.
If you would like to learn more about blockchain, Web3, and the opportunities they offer you, contact us and experience the most interactive and practical workshop on the market. We will provide you with the knowledge, confidence, and tools you need to successfully shape the market.
FAQ: Stablecoins in small and medium-sized enterprises
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Why are stablecoins interesting for small and medium-sized enterprises?
Because they help merchants drastically reduce payments to credit card providers, payment processors, and other intermediaries. In addition, payments with stablecoins are processed in real time. -
What advantages do they offer specifically in retail?
Firstly: cost savings. Transaction fees can be reduced by up to 90 percent compared to traditional payment providers. Secondly: customer loyalty. Integration into loyalty programs enables personalized offers and cashbacks. Thirdly: data analytics. Transparent blockchain data allows for precise analysis of purchasing behavior. Fourth: micropayments. These are new payment models such as pay-per-use or subscriptions for small amounts. Fifth: global reach, because stablecoins allow cross-border payments to be processed without exchange rate risks, and loyalty points can be transferred to other markets. -
How secure are payments with stablecoins?
Users must trust that issuers, i.e., companies that issue stablecoins, hold sufficient reserves and operate transparently. MiCA creates a regulatory framework for this with strict requirements for reserves and risk management. -
How are stablecoins being accepted by customers?
Acceptance is increasing with the use of digital currencies. Millions of people worldwide already use cryptocurrencies. Stablecoins are also gaining popularity due to their stability and ease of use.
Box: Best practices for stablecoins in SMEs
- Monerium is a German fintech company operating across the EU. The company issues the EURe, a MiCA-compliant stablecoin pegged to the euro. This enables medium-sized companies, for example in e-commerce or the manufacturing industry, to make cross-border payments with lower fees (0.5 to 1 percent compared to 5 percent for traditional transfers) and almost instant settlement. A medium-sized German company in the automotive supply industry uses EURe to make payments to EU suppliers. This reduces transaction times from two to three days to just a few minutes.
- Solaris is another FinTech with SME customers. The German company has partnered with FinTechs to integrate stablecoins such as USDC for SME customers in retail and logistics. A medium-sized retailer uses USDC to optimize international supplier payments. This has enabled it to halve its costs compared to SWIFT transfers.
