The first question: Will stablecoins become the 'universal currency' of future payments?
There's a high probability, but it has to pass through 'two hurdles' first.
Think about it, the handling fee for cross-border transfers can often be as high as 6%, and it's common for it to take 3 days to arrive, while stablecoins can achieve 'instant arrival + almost zero fees', which is like giving global payments an 'accelerator'. Giants like Apple and Google are planning to integrate it into our commonly used payment apps—so in the future, when ordering from overseas or sending red envelopes to friends abroad, stablecoins might just be the default option.
But it has to first tackle: ① Governments are afraid it will be used for money laundering, and regulatory policies are like a 'tightening spell'; ② Technology must be stable enough, so that one day the wallet doesn’t get targeted by hackers, and money simply disappears. Therefore, in the short term, it may first explode in popularity in 'small-scale scenarios' like cross-border e-commerce and study abroad fee payments, and over the long term, slowly become a 'regular guest in the payment world.'
The second question: Which giant will be the first to make stablecoins 'take root'?
Apple: 'The king of payments is none other than me.'
Look at Apple's inherent 'cash capability': with 1 billion iPhone users globally, Apple Pay has long been linked to countless bank cards, and now it’s secretly collaborating with crypto companies for 'technical interaction'—for example, the phone's NFC function can already process stablecoin payments, which is like welding the 'virtual wallet' into the phone. In contrast, Google is also discussing cooperation, but Apple has a higher maturity level in the payment ecosystem, so maybe in the next system update, we’ll be able to use stablecoins to buy Starbucks or pay rent.
As for Airbnb (focusing on booking rooms) and Musk's X (still in transition), their main business is 'separated by a layer of gauze' from payments, and in terms of speed to implementation, they can't compete with Apple's status as a 'seasoned player in payments'.
The third question: Will this allow us to 'transform' the way we use cryptocurrencies?
Yes! Say goodbye to 'geek-style operations' and embrace 'fool-proof payments'.
Previously, using cryptocurrencies required studying 'how to save your wallet's private key' and 'how to buy coins and transfer them', with a threshold as high as 'learning advanced mathematics'; now, when giants integrate stablecoins into payment systems, you just open your mobile app, select 'stablecoin payment', and you're done—no need to understand blockchain technology, and you might not even feel like you're using 'cryptocurrency', just that 'the transfer is faster and fees are lower.'
In the future, the scenarios will be varied: for example, if you want to subscribe to overseas dramas, you can pay directly with stablecoins; sending red envelopes to relatives abroad will be instant and fee-free. Cryptocurrencies will no longer be 'just for traders' but will become a 'convenient payment tool' in the hands of ordinary people—just like how Alipay transformed 'online bank transfers' into 'one-click payments', stablecoins may bring 'crypto payments' into daily life.
Stablecoins are like an 'ambitious newcomer' wanting to break into the 'mainstream payment circle' from the 'niche area', and Apple might be the first 'big shot to debut it'. In the future, using cryptocurrencies will no longer require 'hardcore operations', but will feel as natural as using 'digital renminbi'—but remember, it is essentially still a virtual currency, so don’t treat it as a tool for 'stockpiling wealth', just regard it as 'a useful payment means'~