Mainstream fintech companies are re-evaluating opportunities in the crypto space.

PayPal has long launched the PYUSD stablecoin and is now deepening its integration with blockchain, migrating payment processes onto the chain. Stripe's approach is similar but more aggressive—they are betting on stablecoin infrastructure and even designing their own blockchain focused on payments, aiming to reconstruct the payment process from the ground up. Klarna's strategy is to issue its own stablecoin to optimize merchant settlement efficiency and reduce cross-border payment costs. Revolut is also exploring in this direction.

It seems that 2026 will become a key time window for collective entry into fintech. These companies share two common traits: first, they possess vast amounts of payment data and a large user base; second, they have made substantial investments in blockchain infrastructure. In other words, they are no longer spectators but are actively transforming the payment network with real capital.

Stablecoins have become the common entry point for this wave. Why? Because stablecoins address the biggest pain point in crypto payments—volatility. For merchants and consumers, being able to settle quickly with stablecoins is more practical than anything else. This may mark a turning point where crypto payments shift from idealism to pragmatism.