Meta Explores Stablecoin Payments for Micro-Transactions

Meta, the tech giant behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is exploring stablecoin-based payment solutions for cross-border transactions, particularly creator payouts on Instagram, three years after abandoning its Diem (formerly known as Libra) project. The company is in early discussions with multiple crypto infrastructure firms, with no definitive partnerships or stablecoin selections finalized. A source indicates Meta may pursue a multi-token approach, potentially supporting popular stablecoins like Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC to reduce transaction costs and enhance user experience.

Meta’s Stablecoin Exploration: A Multi-Token Strategy

Although specific details remain limited, Fortune reports that Meta is exploring the integration of stablecoin payments into its platforms to facilitate low-cost, cross-border payments, especially for Instagram creators in regions like Southeast Asia and Latin America. The company began reaching out to crypto infrastructure firms in early 2025, engaging in “learn mode” to evaluate options without committing to specific providers or stablecoins. A source familiar with the discussions suggests Meta is considering a multi-token approach, potentially supporting USDT, USDC, and other USD-pegged stablecoins to maximize flexibility and user access. Different from its earlier endeavor in Diem, this strategy avoids the regulatory and technical complexities of issuing a proprietary stablecoin.

Meta hired Ginger Baker, a former Ripple executive, as vice president to lead product development for these payment initiatives.

Previous Attempts: Diem’s Ambitious Failure

Meta first entered the stablecoin space in 2019 with Libra, later rebranded Diem, a blockchain-based project to create a global digital currency backed by a basket of fiat currencies and securities. Managed by the Libra Association, which included Visa and PayPal, Libra aimed to enable low-cost payments for Meta’s billions of users, targeting unbanked populations and cross-border transactions. However, it faced intense regulatory opposition from the U.S. Congress, Federal Reserve, and European regulators, who feared risks to monetary policy, financial stability, and data privacy. By 2022, Meta sold Diem’s assets to Silvergate Capital for $182 million, ending the project without a public launch or significant adoption.

Diem’s failure was due to centralized governance, regulatory resistance, and public distrust of Meta’s data practices. Despite this, its vision of programmable money informs Meta’s current strategy of leveraging existing stablecoins.

Outlook for Meta’s Stablecoin Business

The stablecoin market is experiencing robust growth. Currently, stablecoins boast a substantial market capitalization of $217 billion, with Citibank analysts projecting this figure to soar to $3.7 trillion by 2030. In regions like Africa and South America, where currency inflation risks and payment inefficiencies are prevalent, stablecoins hold particularly promising application prospects. However, the stablecoin market is highly competitive. The two dominant issuers, Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC, command the vast majority of the market share. Additionally, the Trump family’s WLFI project has launched its own stablecoin, USD1. Global payment leader Stripe has introduced a stablecoin financial account targeting developing markets, while financial institutions like Fidelity are also planning to enter the stablecoin space.

Amid this intense competition, Meta’s plan to integrate various stablecoins to provide payment solutions is a strategic approach. With its platforms—Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—Meta has amassed a vast user base, creating network effects that independent crypto companies cannot rival. Instagram’s creator economy and WhatsApp’s peer-to-peer transfers offer ideal use cases for stablecoins. Meta’s existing in-app purchase and advertising systems can seamlessly integrate stablecoin payment rails, reducing costs compared to building new infrastructure. As stablecoins gain broader acceptance as a payment method and regulatory environments become increasingly clear, Meta’s move to integrate stablecoin payments is poised to not only generate significant business opportunities for the company but also pave the way for stablecoins to become a mainstream payment method.