Key Takeaways
- Apple, X, Airbnb, and Google are in talks to integrate stablecoins for payments.
- Google Cloud has already processed stablecoin payments using PayPal's PYUSD.
- Regulatory uncertainty and stablecoin selection remain key hurdles for Big Tech adoption.
Stablecoins, digital tokens pegged to the US dollar, are drawing significant interest from major tech firms including Apple, X (formerly Twitter), Airbnb, and Google.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, these companies are in early conversations with bitcoin and blockchain firms to explore stablecoin integrations as a way to reduce transaction fees and streamline global payments.
Apple, X, and Airbnb
Apple has reportedly been in talks with stablecoin issuers such as Circle since January 2025 to bring stablecoin payments into its Apple Pay ecosystem.
Airbnb has also been exploring similar moves, discussing potential implementations with payment processor Worldpay, which recently announced stablecoin payout capabilities.
Meanwhile, X is considering integrating stablecoin payments into its X Money app, with Stripe mentioned as a possible partner.
Leadership changes at X, including the departure of Patrick Traughber and the appointment of Payam Abedi, have not slowed the company’s interest in digital asset payments.
Chris Ahn, partner at Haun Ventures and early investor in stablecoin startup Bridge, said:
“[Stablecoins] are this old idea, but finally I think we’ve got the right pieces coming together such that it’s really coming into fruition”
Head in the cloud
Google Cloud is currently the furthest along, having already accepted payments in PYUSD, PayPal’s stablecoin.
Rich Widmann, head of Web3 strategy at Google Cloud, confirmed the ongoing exploration of stablecoin integrations, stating:
“It’s pretty clear that this is probably one of the biggest upgrades to payments since the SWIFT network.”
Despite the growing interest, companies must navigate regulatory concerns and decide which stablecoins to adopt, with USDC and Tether presenting different compliance and stability profiles.
