Stripe introduces stablecoin payments for subscription services

• Businesses can now accept recurring USDC payments on Base and Polygon.
• Stablecoin subscriptions integrate seamlessly with Stripe’s Dashboard.
• Cross-border payments are faster and cheaper using stablecoins.

Stripe is stepping deeper into the world of digital currencies, testing stablecoin payments for subscription services as part of its broader effort to expand crypto capabilities.

The payments giant has begun rolling out features that allow businesses to accept recurring payments in stablecoins, signalling a notable push toward integrating cryptocurrency into mainstream financial operations.

USDC-powered subscription payments on the Base and Polygon

The new initiative enables businesses to accept USDC-powered subscription payments on the Base and Polygon networks, offering a seamless experience for both merchants and customers.

Subscribers can pay using more than 400 supported wallets, while merchants automatically receive fiat settlements through Stripe’s integrated billing system.

By bridging the gap between crypto and traditional payments, Stripe is aiming to make digital currencies a practical tool for everyday business operations rather than a niche option.

Stripe has also addressed one of the most cumbersome aspects of blockchain payments: the need for customers to manually sign each transaction.

Through a custom smart contract, the platform now allows subscribers to save their wallet as a payment method and authorise recurring payments without repeated approvals.

This innovation reduces friction for users and simplifies subscription management, which has historically been a barrier to wider adoption of crypto payments.

Unified management across fiat and crypto

A key advantage of Stripe’s stablecoin subscriptions is the ability to manage crypto and fiat payments side by side in the Stripe Dashboard.

The integration is fully compatible with Stripe Billing and the Optimised Checkout Suite, allowing businesses to track cash flow and revenue streams from a single interface.

This unified approach eliminates the complexity of maintaining separate systems for crypto and traditional payments, streamlining operations for companies that handle multiple revenue streams.

The update is particularly significant for businesses with recurring revenue models, which make up nearly 30% of Stripe’s user base.

By offering stablecoin payments alongside traditional options, Stripe enables these businesses to reach a wider customer base and provide flexible payment methods that appeal to crypto-savvy subscribers.

Stirpe’s aim to improve its global reach and efficiency

Stripe’s stablecoin initiative also aims to improve the efficiency of cross-border payments.

Many of the platform’s top users, particularly in the AI and tech sectors, generate a significant portion of their revenue from outside the US, where international transactions can be slow and costly.

By adopting stablecoins, businesses can cut transaction costs dramatically and speed up settlements, making it easier to move money across borders.

Early adopters, such as Shadeform, have reportedly shifted up to 20% of their transaction volume to stablecoins, reducing fees by half while benefiting from faster payment processing.

The company has also been building partnerships with crypto wallet providers like Phantom to make stablecoin payments more accessible.

These collaborations are designed to expand access to crypto rails for everyday transactions, effectively blending traditional finance with blockchain infrastructure.

Stripe has further provided tools for businesses to issue their own stablecoins and integrate customizable onramps for payments, underscoring its commitment to expanding crypto infrastructure for commercial use.

As Stripe continues to pilot these stablecoin features, the initiative could redefine how subscription-based businesses handle recurring payments, particularly in markets where cross-border transactions have traditionally been cumbersome and expensive.

By integrating crypto into familiar billing frameworks, Stripe is laying the groundwork for a future where digital currencies coexist seamlessly with traditional financial systems, offering businesses and consumers alike more flexibility and efficiency.