Major retailers like Walmart and Amazon are considering issuing their own stablecoins, aiming to streamline payments and reduce reliance on costly card networks. The initiative could save billions annually by slashing interchange fees, while near-instant settlement times will benefit businesses handling vast transaction volumes.
These companies stand to benefit significantly from this development. For example, Walmart’s e-commerce platform surpassed $100 billion in sales last year, and Amazon’s online retail revenue reached a staggering $447 billion. Faster settlements and reduced fees could help optimize their cash flow, particularly for international suppliers.
Further innovation lies in the exploration of consortium models where multiple retailers share a single stablecoin to spread risks and investment costs.
However, the ultimate success hinges on the passage of the GENIUS Act, aimed at establishing regulatory frameworks for these corporate-issued stablecoins. The bill has cleared procedural votes in both the Senate and House, with retail groups pushing for its approval. This could disrupt traditional payment rails dominated by banks like Visa/Mastercard.