In a landmark development for cryptocurrency adoption, infrastructure provider MoonPay has announced a strategic partnership with WalletConnect and global payment platform Ingenico. This collaboration will enable consumers to use stablecoins like USDC, USDT, and DAI for everyday purchases at physical retail stores equipped with Ingenico point-of-sale terminals worldwide.
The technical implementation creates a seamless bridge between digital asset wallets and traditional payment systems. When a customer selects stablecoin payment, the Ingenico terminal generates a QR code. The customer scans this with their cryptocurrency wallet app, where WalletConnect establishes a secure connection. MoonPay's conversion engine then processes the stablecoin-to-fiat exchange in real-time, with the merchant receiving confirmation and traditional currency settlement within seconds, mirroring traditional card payment speeds.
This development represents a significant shift from stablecoins being a niche digital asset to a practical, everyday payment tool. The partnership leverages each company's core expertise: MoonPay provides crypto infrastructure and compliance, WalletConnect offers secure communication protocols, and Ingenico contributes its vast retail payment network that processes billions of transactions annually across 170 countries.
Industry analysis highlights the potential impact. With global point-of-sale transactions exceeding $45 trillion in 2024 and stablecoins representing over 70% of all crypto transaction volume, this integration bridges two massive financial ecosystems. A key advantage is cost: while traditional systems charge merchants 1.5-3.5% per transaction, stablecoin payments could reduce fees to an estimated 0.1-1.0%.
The rollout will follow a phased approach, with pilot programs launching in select markets in Q2 2025 and broader deployment throughout 2025-2026. Importantly, the system requires only software updates for existing Ingenico terminals, not hardware replacement, significantly lowering adoption barriers for merchants.
From a regulatory standpoint, the system is designed for compliance. It incorporates anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) protocols through MoonPay's infrastructure and converts to fiat through regulated channels, shielding merchants from direct cryptocurrency exposure and associated complexities.
This move aligns with a broader trend of stablecoins becoming integrated into familiar financial tools. Other platforms, like KAST, are also focusing on making stablecoin spending feel like a normal payment experience—offering Visa cards that automatically convert USDC or USDT balances to local currency at the point of sale. The overarching shift in 2026 is that stablecoins are moving from assets users must actively "manage" to something they can simply "use" for daily transactions.
