Stablecoin regulation next ‘catalyst’ for crypto industry — Aptos head

Stablecoin regulation is “the next catalyst” for the crypto industry and could lead to unprecedented “appetite from institutional investors,” according to Ash Pampati, head of ecosystem at the Aptos Foundation.

In an interview with Cointelegraph at Consensus 2025 in Toronto, Pampati said that “the whole world outside of the United States […] has already jumped onto this [stablecoins],” adding that “the US is [...] at the doorstep.”

“I really think about new use cases that can emerge because of the borderless nature of stablecoins, because of the efficiency of the dollar onchain,” he said. “If you're trying to send money to your friend in Nigeria, why do you have to go through a bunch of hoops?”

Stablecoins are often used to transfer money across borders, as they are easier and cheaper to transfer than traditional finance methods such as wire transfers. They are also used to hedge against fiat currency, which, in emerging markets, can devalue significantly in a short period of time.

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According to a new survey from Fireblocks, Latin America leads all regions in real-world use of stablecoins, with 71% of respondents saying they use the technology for cross-border payments.

Half of respondents in the region, which encompasses a number of developing countries, say they expect stablecoins to offer lower transaction costs than traditional finance rails.

“I think you will see an amazing appetite from institutional investors […] we can really think, rethink the fintech space across B2B, B2C with fully onchain rails," Pampati said.

According to Fireblocks’ survey, 86% of respondents say that their company shows “infrastructure readiness.” In other words, their companies are ready to adopt stablecoin. In addition, 75% of respondents say they see clear customer demand for stablecoins.

However, regulation still holds a large role in determining adoption. The survey shows that confidence in stablecoins is rising, not only because of the technology but also because regulatory barriers have fallen.

Agencies around the world have sought to regulate stablecoins. The progress has included the European Union’s MiCA regulation, various acts in the United Arab Emirates, and even the United States’ GENIUS Act, which reports indicate has regained some bipartisan support after a failed May 8 vote.

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