Visa's Money Travels 2026 study reveals that consumer protections may be a greater obstacle to mainstream stablecoin adoption than technological limitations.
The research found that 36% of U.S. respondents would consider using stablecoins under baseline conditions. This figure rises to 45% when stablecoins are offered through an existing financial provider, then jumps to 56% when hypothetical bank-level fraud protection and deposit insurance are included.
Trust Over Technology
While stablecoins are typically marketed around settlement speed and cost benefits, Visa's findings suggest consumers prioritize security assurances equally. The study found that 45% of U.S. respondents said they would accept a 24-hour transfer delay in exchange for stronger fraud protection.
Additional concerns emerged around fraud vulnerabilities. The survey found that 36% of Americans had encountered cross-border payment scams, while 44% expressed concern about AI-enabled fraud such as deepfakes.
Current Protections Remain Limited
An important distinction exists between the study's hypothetical protections and current reality. The research presented bank-style fraud protection and deposit insurance as potential future features rather than existing safeguards. Stablecoins do not automatically receive protections such as FDIC insurance simply because they are pegged to the dollar.
The survey covered 2,192 U.S. adults through Morning Consult and more than 45,000 respondents across 20 markets globally.
The research suggests that while stablecoins have addressed speed and cost in moving money, establishing consumer confidence in the protections surrounding those transfers remains a critical hurdle for wider adoption.
