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San Francisco, December 12, 2025.
Payments giant Stripe announced Thursday the immediate worldwide rollout of USD-settled stablecoin payments using USDC, enabling millions of merchants to accept digital dollars on Ethereum, Base, and Polygon with instant conversion to fiat and a flat 1.5% fee.
The launch marks the public debut of a feature first previewed in 2024 and expanded through 2025, completing Stripe’s bridge between traditional finance and blockchain rails.
Key Takeaways
- Global availability starting today in 150+ countries
- Supports USDC (primary), USDP, and USDG
- Live on Ethereum, Base (Coinbase L2), and Polygon
- Instant USD settlement to merchant bank accounts
- Flat 1.5% transaction fee, no additional charges
- Zero-code activation via Stripe Dashboard
- Full support for one-time payments and recurring subscriptions
How It Works
Customers using compatible wallets (MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, Phantom, etc.) see a “Pay with Crypto” option at checkout when visiting Stripe-powered stores.
After selecting USDC on their preferred network, they confirm the transaction with one signature.
Stripe’s infrastructure instantly converts the stablecoin to USD and deposits the funds, minus the 1.5% fee, into the merchant’s linked bank account, typically within seconds.
For recurring billing, Stripe deploys custom smart contracts that automate wallet pulls, solving a longstanding blockchain limitation for subscription businesses.
Background and Strategic Context
Stripe first experimented with cryptocurrency in 2018, paused during the 2022–2023 bear market, then re-entered aggressively in 2024 with USDC payouts on Solana, Ethereum, and Polygon.
The $1.1 billion acquisition of stablecoin infrastructure provider Bridge in February 2025 accelerated development of today’s product.
The timing aligns with explosive stablecoin growth: the sector’s market cap now exceeds $260 billion, having tripled since early 2023. Analysts project stablecoins could capture 10% of global payments volume by 2030.
Industry Reaction
Circle co-founder and CEO Jeremy Allaire called the launch “a massive step toward mainstream stablecoin commerce.”
Early adopters report conversion-rate lifts of 8–15% from crypto-native customers and near-zero payment failures compared with traditional card networks in emerging markets.
Some on-chain purists criticized the 1.5% fee as high given sub-cent network costs, but merchants counter that operational simplicity and regulatory compliance justify the premium.
Conclusion
By abstracting blockchain complexity while delivering fiat stability, Stripe has positioned itself as the default on-ramp for merchants entering the stablecoin economy.
The move is expected to drive significant volume to Base and Polygon while reinforcing USDC’s dominance among regulated dollar stablecoins.
As one Stripe product lead stated:
“We’re not asking merchants to become crypto companies, we’re bringing crypto to them on their terms.”
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FAQs:
1. When did Stripe launch USDC payments globally?
Worldwide rollout began December 12, 2025.
2. Which blockchains support Stripe’s stablecoin payments?
Ethereum, Base, and Polygon (EVM-compatible chains).
3. What is the fee for accepting USDC via Stripe?
Flat 1.5 % per transaction; no setup, monthly, or hidden fees.
4. How do customers pay with USDC on a Stripe checkout?
They connect any compatible wallet, select USDC on their chosen network, and sign once.
5. Is this available outside the United States?
Yes, merchants in over 150 countries can enable it immediately.
