Stablecoins are entering a new phase of adoption, with large corporations using them for cross-border treasury flows while AI agents begin using blockchain rails for autonomous payments, Bridge and Deus X Capital executives said at Consensus 2026.

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Bridge executive Lindsey Einhaus said large corporations are increasingly exploring stablecoins for treasury and cross-border payments.

AI-powered micropayments may become a major new use case as stablecoin rails reduce transaction costs.

Large corporations looking to modernize payments and AI agents making autonomous transactions are emerging as the two biggest growth drivers for stablecoins, executives of Bridge and Deus X Capital said Thursday at Consensus 2026 in Miami.

She pointed to payment-focused blockchains like Tempo, backed by Stripe and Paradigm, as key enablers for broader adoption. Existing blockchains historically lacked features common in traditional payment systems, such as refunds, chargebacks, and private transactions, she argued.

The next growth area may come from AI-powered micropayments.

According to Einhaus, blockchain-based stablecoin rails could finally make tiny internet payments economically viable by removing costly intermediaries and reducing transaction fees. Historically, micropayments failed because transaction costs often exceeded the value being transferred, while crypto payments introduced price volatility that discouraged spending.

Grant struck a more cautious tone overall on the pace of stablecoin adoption. While he was optimistic in the long term, he argued that the industry still faces hurdles around regulation, consumer onboarding, and institutional coordination.

"Before, you had to push institutions to pay attention," Grant said. "Now they’re pulling."
 
View sources >> AI agents and large corporates will lead the next stablecoin boom, executives say