I just came across an interesting thesis from a16z that made me think. Most people automatically associate stablecoins with the fight against traditional payment systems, but a16z argues differently. For them, the real potential isn't to replace credit cards but rather in areas where the traditional financial system leaves gaps.

That actually makes sense when you think about it. Credit cards offer us quite a lot: buyer protection, cashback, points, and the entire infrastructure behind them. What do stablecoins offer in comparison? Currently, they can't really provide these advantages. And honestly: why would anyone want to give them up? 82 percent of Americans use reward credit cards, and worldwide, there are 18 billion cards in circulation. That's a huge, accustomed user base.

But what's interesting is: a16z doesn't see the real opportunities for stablecoins in a direct fight to displace existing payment methods. Instead, it's about new markets and categories that still need to emerge. Categories where traditional financial services don't work well or aren't accessible at all. That's actually a clever perspective that you don't hear very often. So, stablecoins could function less as a killer of payment methods and more as a solution to problems that the old financial world has simply ignored.