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Acquirers can tap crypto, stablecoins and digital wallets as merchants seek new payment rails; panel says 50‑60 million US consumers hold crypto, comparable to
Large payments firms are adding cryptocurrency and alternative payment methods to their processing suites, opening a fresh revenue stream for acquiring banks and sales agents, panelists said at the Southeast Acquirers Association conference in Miami Beach【1】.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Crypto‑holding consumers (US) | 50‑60 million |
| Major card network comparison | ~70 million Amex, ~50 million Discover |
| New stablecoin initiatives | PayPal, Fiserv, MoneyGram, Shift4 (2025) |
| Catalyst | Payments firms integrating crypto/APMs, merchant demand |
Panelists highlighted that international travelers and the sizable US crypto‑wealth base are driving merchants to add crypto and other alternative payment methods (APMs) to their checkout options【1】. Mark Standfield of AltoPay noted the shift from a credit‑debit‑only focus to “real‑time payments, digital wallets, stablecoins, and cryptocurrency.” Visa’s recent work on tokenized deposits and Mastercard’s $1.8 billion acquisition of stablecoin platform BVNK illustrate how the two card giants are deepening their crypto involvement【1】.
According to Jay Sykes of Bead Pay, the 50‑60 million US crypto owners represent a market segment comparable in size to holders of major credit cards, suggesting a sizable untapped transaction volume【1】. He argues that many alternative payment methods, including crypto, typically carry lower processing fees than traditional card transactions, allowing acquirers to earn incremental revenue while offering merchants lower cost per transaction and access to new customers【1】. Gustavo Jimenez of Blokko added that pricing models for these products mirror those of conventional card processing, easing operational concerns and making the offering “high‑value” for agents【1】.
Beyond the major card networks, several payment processors are launching their own stablecoins—PayPal, Fiserv, MoneyGram—and Shift4 Payments plans a stablecoin‑settlement platform for 2025【1】. Technical integration hurdles have lessened thanks to API‑based data exchange, enabling merchants to accept crypto via simple QR codes at point‑of‑sale【1】.
The discussion underscores that while crypto transaction volumes remain modest compared with card payments, the convergence of merchant demand, declining integration costs, and the entry of established payment giants suggest a growing, revenue‑generating niche for acquirers and their agents. The open question is how quickly the ecosystem can translate the 50‑60 million US crypto holders into measurable transaction flow.
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AI-assisted synthesis by the TrendWatcher Editorial Desk · sourced from 4 outlets · Jun 17, 2026 · How we report
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