Hey! Have you ever thought that in a couple of years, your salary might not land in your bank account but instead arrive as a "coin" in a digital wallet? This isn't science fiction. Our old acquaintances—stablecoins (like USDT, USDC)—have stepped out from the shadows of crypto exchanges and are now targeting the heart of the financial system: the ACH bank payment network.
According to a forecast by Galaxy Digital, by 2026, the transaction volume of stablecoins could surpass that of the entire US ACH system. This means that digital assets pegged to the US dollar could handle more money than the network responsible for salaries, mortgages, and inter-bank transfers in the United States.
Let's break down how this is possible and why it matters for you and me.
What is ACH and why is it being challenged?
ACH is the invisible backend processor that moves trillions of dollars between banks. When your salary is deposited or your internet bill is paid automatically, ACH is at work. Its main drawbacks are speed (1-2 business days) and operating hours (weekdays only).
Stablecoins, on the other hand, operate 24/7, and transactions take seconds for pennies. Galaxy Digital notes they have already surpassed Visa in transaction volume and reached ~50% of ACH's volume. A market cap of $309 billion shows how much real money is already in this system.
Three Key Drivers for Explosive Growth:
Regulation as an Accelerator. The pending "GENIUS Act" (expected around early 2026) is not a threat but a gift. It will create clear rules for issuing stablecoins under FDIC oversight (like banks). This will give traditional banks the green light to enter the market en masse.Institutions Are Already Onboard. This isn't speculation; it's practice:Visa is using USDC for instant interbank settlements.Western Union and Sony Bank are developing their own stablecoins.
This is a signal: big players see this as technology, not a toy.The Network Effect. The more companies pay salaries in stablecoins, the more services that accept them, the easier and more beneficial they become to use. The 30-40% annual growth rate (CAGR) in supply leads to similar growth in transactions.
What Will This Ultimately Change?
If the forecast comes true, we'll see a world where:
International transfers become as simple and cheap as sending a message.Finance becomes programmable: complex payment chains can be automated.Access to the dollar becomes global and instant for anyone with an internet connection.
A question for you, as someone in the know:
Do you see this as the natural evolution of finance (like the shift from cash to cards), or will banks and regulators find a way to slow down this revolution to protect the old system? And what, in your view, will be the "point of no return"—the GENIUS Act or the first major bank launching its own stablecoin?
Share your thoughts in the comments! Let's discuss whose side the future is on.
#ACH #stablecoin #Stablecoins