Published September 23, 2026 · 09:00 US/Eastern
Stablecoin cross-border flows surge 78%, defying crypto bear market - tradingview.com
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Stablecoin cross-border flows rose 78% even as broader crypto markets remained under pressure, according to tradingview.com. The divergence is notable: while speculative digital assets have struggled, stablecoins — tokens designed to hold a steady value, typically pegged to a fiat currency — appear to be finding growing use in cross-border payments and settlement.
That matters because it suggests demand is being driven less by trading sentiment than by practical utility. Stablecoins can move value across borders faster and, in many corridors, more cheaply than traditional correspondent banking, which has made them a focus for payment firms and remittance providers. Persistent flows during a bear market imply this activity is functional rather than speculative.
For observers, the key question is whether the growth reflects durable adoption or temporary factors such as regional currency stress or shifting regulatory conditions. Watch whether volumes hold up if market sentiment recovers, and how regulators in major jurisdictions treat stablecoin issuance and transfers. Sustained flows could signal that stablecoins are becoming embedded payment infrastructure rather than a crypto-market sideshow.
Source: tradingview.com