39% of Crypto Users Earn Income via Stablecoins: BVNK Study

A comprehensive international survey, commissioned by BVNK and carried out by YouGov, has revealed that 39% of cryptocurrency users and those considering adoption across 15 different nations are now receiving their income through stablecoins. Additionally, 27% of participants reported utilizing these assets for routine daily transactions, primarily due to significantly reduced fees and quicker cross-border transfer capabilities.

This extensive study involved 4,658 individuals who were surveyed online during September and October 2025. The respondents were all adults either currently holding cryptocurrencies or intending to purchase them in the near future. The findings indicated that stablecoin holders maintain an average balance of approximately $200 in their digital wallets worldwide. However, in wealthier, high-income countries, this figure rises substantially to around $1,000 on average.

Furthermore, a striking 77% of those surveyed expressed willingness to create a stablecoin wallet through their main bank or preferred fintech service if such an option became available. Similarly, 71% showed enthusiasm for employing a connected debit card to facilitate spending stablecoins in everyday scenarios.

Participants who are earning income in stablecoins noted that these digital assets typically represent about 35% of their total yearly income. Individuals relying on stablecoins for international money transfers highlighted average cost reductions of roughly 40% when compared to conventional remittance services.

Over half of the cryptocurrency owners surveyed admitted to making purchases explicitly because the merchant supported stablecoin payments. This trend was even more pronounced in emerging markets, where the figure climbed to 60%. Meanwhile, 42% of respondents indicated a desire to employ stablecoins for significant or luxury purchases, in contrast to the 28% who are already doing so currently.

Stablecoin ownership rates were notably elevated in middle- and low-income regions, with 60% of respondents reporting holdings, compared to just 45% in high-income economies. Africa stood out with the highest adoption rate at 79%, alongside the most substantial growth in stablecoin balances over the previous 12 months.

Multiple Tokens Preferred

A representative from BVNK explained to Cointelegraph that the research aimed to delve into the usage behaviors of both current and potential cryptocurrency enthusiasts, rather than assessing overall population-wide adoption levels.

The spokesperson further noted that survey participants generally diversify their holdings across various dollar-pegged and euro-pegged stablecoins, avoiding dependence on any one issuer. This diversification implies that users frequently distribute their funds across several different stablecoin types to manage their assets.

In terms of preferred platforms for handling stablecoins, 46% of respondents favored cryptocurrency exchange services. This was closely followed by payment applications with integrated crypto functionalities, such as PayPal or Venmo, chosen by 40%. Mobile cryptocurrency wallet applications came in third at 39%. In comparison, only 13% expressed a preference for storing stablecoins in hardware wallets.

BVNK, based in London, launched operations in 2021 as a specialized payments infrastructure provider centered on stablecoins for business enterprises. Earlier this year in June, the company collaborated with Highnote, a San Francisco-headquartered firm, to enable stablecoin-funded options within the embedded finance platform’s card programs.

Stablecoins Move into Regulated Payroll Systems

Following the enactment of the GENIUS Act in the United States and the rollout of Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, stablecoins are progressively embedding themselves into worldwide payroll frameworks. This shift allows businesses to broaden their digital asset options for employee salaries and international disbursements.

On February 11, the global payroll service Deel announced plans to introduce stablecoin-based salary payments via a partnership with MoonPay. This service will launch next month initially for employees in the United Kingdom and the European Union, with subsequent expansion into the US market.

Through this collaboration, workers have the flexibility to receive a portion or their entire paycheck in stablecoins directly to non-custodial wallets. MoonPay manages the necessary conversions and blockchain settlements, while Deel oversees payroll processing and regulatory compliance aspects.

Activity from enterprise players in this space has gained considerable momentum. For instance, Paystand recently acquired Bitwage, a service dedicated to facilitating cross-border stablecoin disbursements. This move enhances Paystand’s capabilities in digital asset settlements and currency exchanges within its B2B payments ecosystem, which has already handled over $20 billion in transaction volume, according to company reports.

Stablecoins’ 1:1 peg to traditional fiat currencies like the US dollar or euro provides the price stability essential for payment applications. This reliability sets them apart from more volatile cryptocurrencies, making them far more practical for transactional use.

Data from DefiLlama shows the total stablecoin market capitalization currently at $307.8 billion, a notable increase from $260.4 billion recorded on July 19, coinciding with the signing of the US GENIUS Act into legislation.

The chart illustrates the recent growth in the stablecoin sector, underscoring the expanding role these assets play in the broader financial landscape amid evolving regulations and enterprise adoption.