01.19.2026

# Why Payment Platforms Can’t Ignore Crypto Payments Anymore

WalletConnect

Pay

_An educational perspective on the strategic opportunity in crypto payments and how WalletConnect Pay enables it._

In 2026, crypto isn’t on the fringes of payments anymore; it’s increasingly part of how money moves in the real world. What was once a niche use case has become a **tangible demand from consumers, merchants, and even major fintech platforms**.

Payment companies need to understand _why_ crypto payments matter and _how_ they can build products that enable them.

## Crypto payments are growing and fast!

**Stablecoins and crypto payments are no longer fringe:**

- Stablecoin transaction volume grew **83% between July 2024 and July 2025**, and payments giants like Visa/Mastercard have processed over $120 billion in crypto-related purchases. ( [Source](https://coinlaw.io/stablecoin-statistics))
- Stablecoins were the primary choice in over **35% of all crypto payment transactions**, showing a clear shift toward assets built for stability and commerce. ( [Source](https://news.bit2me.com/en/Stablecoins-boost-cryptocurrency-payments-in-2024))
- In 2025, stablecoin payments have surged, climbing **more than 70% year-to-date and surpassing $10+ billion in real-world settlement volumes**. ( [Source](https://beincrypto.com/stablecoin-payments-surge-real-world-use-case))
- Crypto card payments alone are now processing **approximately $18 billion annually**, indicating consumer and business usage across familiar card rails. ( [Source](https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/crypto-card-spending-hits-18-151815386.html))

These figures show two important trends:

1. **Crypto is being spent, not just traded.**
2. **Stable, digital dollars are emerging as a preferred way to settle value.**

## There is widespread consumer demand waiting to be unlocked

Crypto use isn’t limited to early adopters or hobbyists:

- Over **560 million people globally held crypto as of 2024**, representing a significant consumer base that payment companies can reach. ( [Source](https://sqmagazine.co.uk/cryptocurrency-payment-adoption-by-merchants-statistics))
- Merchants are responding: **over 12,800 businesses worldwide accepted crypto payments**, up **50% year-over-year**, and **88% of them reported increased revenue after enabling crypto pay**. ( [Source](https://nftevening.com/study-88-percent-businesses-higher-revenue-accepting-crypto/))

This isn’t just interest, it’s _adoption_, and it’s growing.

## Merchants want choice, and they’re starting to ask for it

Despite growing crypto ownership and merchant reports of higher revenue, crypto payment acceptance remains **early**:

- Only around **7% of merchants using crypto-enabled systems process crypto payments regularly**. ( [Source](https://sqmagazine.co.uk/cryptocurrency-payment-adoption-by-merchants-statistics))

That gap is not a lack of interest; it’s a lack of **products that work the way merchants need them to**: reliable, integrated, and compliant with existing payment workflows.

## The challenge payment companies face

Crypto is not “just another currency.” Traditionally, it has required:

- Specialized routing logic
- New settlement and reconciliation systems
- Integration with multiple wallets and assets
- Crypto-native tooling that doesn’t align with PSP stacks

That makes building crypto payment products from scratch:

- Expensive
- Complex
- Slow to deliver real merchant value

## What a real crypto payment product looks like

A product that fits into existing payment stacks must allow:

- Simple integration with the current PSP infrastructure
- Settlement that behaves like familiar payment methods
- Reconciliation without introducing new operational models
- Support for any wallet and any asset, not a single siloed option

This is where many legacy efforts fall short; they treat crypto as a separate rail, not as a **compatible payment method**.

**WalletConnect Pay** enables payment companies to build crypto payment products that work _with_ the way payments already operate:

## One integration, broad support

WalletConnect Pay allows PSPs to accept:

- Payments from **any wallet**
- Payments in **any supported asset**
- With a single, familiar integration

This eliminates the complexity of building wallet-specific or chain-specific solutions.

## Fits into existing stacks

WalletConnect Pay behaves like an **Alternative Payment Method (APM)**:

- No new routing engines
- No bespoke settlement
- Reconciliation that matches existing practices

WalletConnect Pay becomes just another payment method, but one that opens **new volume and new customers**.

## Reach and scale

Built on the WalletConnect Network, WalletConnect Pay benefits from:

- **700+ connected wallets**
- **Access to 500M+ global crypto users**
- Hundreds of billions in transaction value flow through the network annually

In other words, the demand isn’t theoretical; it’s already happening onchain, and WalletConnect Pay makes it usable in payments flows.

## Why now is the right time

Crypto payments are still early enough that payment companies can shape the landscape, but they are **too big to ignore**:

- Consumers are spending crypto in real retail and online environments
- Merchants see real revenue gains from acceptance
- Competing platforms like PayPal and Stripe are already launching crypto payment options

Payment companies that **wait** risk losing:

- Merchant relationships
- Incremental transaction volume
- Leadership in next-generation payments

Those who **act now** can:

- Offer crypto products that feel native, not bolt-on
- Open new revenue streams with minimal operational disruption
- Differentiate their product portfolios in a crowded PSP market

## The shift is clear

Crypto is no longer a fringe payment method. Consumers want to spend their assets. Merchants want to accept them.

Platforms that deliver usable, compliant products win.

**WalletConnect Pay enables payment companies to meet this demand today.**

## The standard is set.

Join the payment leaders already building with WalletConnect Pay.

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