DeFi and Stablecoins: A Significant Resurgence, Poised for a Key Role in the Modern Financial System

Key Takeaways

DeFi is back in the spotlight as users flock to decentralized financial services that offer low costs and global accessibility.

Stablecoins are becoming a growing payment mechanism, with transaction volumes reaching $6.3 trillion within 12 months.

The number of active Stablecoin wallets has grown by over 53% in a single year, reflecting increased adoption within the digital financial system.

Major players are seriously entering the market, accelerating the development of infrastructure to support sustainable adoption.

The Return of DeFi as Users Seek Control Over Their Finances

TechTarget predicts that DeFi is set to re-emerge as a key Web3 trend in 2025. Although the overall growth of Web 3.0 has been slower than anticipated, advancements in Blockchain technology and supportive legal trends for Crypto in the U.S. are considered positive signs.

DeFi (Decentralized Finance), or the decentralized financial system, is regaining attention after a market downturn. Users are beginning to return to decentralized exchange (DEX) platforms and lending protocols that do not rely on banks or intermediaries.

The global DeFi market was valued at $71.00 billion in 2024. It is projected to grow from $86.53 billion in 2025 to $457.35 billion by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights. This anticipated growth represents a noteworthy compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.9% during this period.

DeFi's distinct advantages include transparency, borderless accessibility, and significantly lower usage costs compared to traditional systems. New technologies such as Layer 2 solutions, cross-chain interoperability, and the integration of real-world assets (RWA) onto the Blockchain are helping DeFi connect more deeply with the real economy.

TechTarget believes many organizations are considering DeFi to enhance their financial systems, making them more open and efficient. This is a key factor positioning DeFi as a trend to watch in 2025.

Stablecoins: From Trading Tools to Real-World Payment Mechanisms

Stablecoins, digital currencies designed to maintain a stable value (e.g., pegged to the U.S. dollar), are transitioning from being assets primarily for trading in the Crypto market to practical tools for both individuals and organizations. They are used for payments, money transfers, and cross-border transactions, offering low costs, high speed, and 24/7 availability.

Data from Visa Onchain Analytics and Payments CMI indicates that in the 12 months leading up to February 2025, the global value of payments via Stablecoins reached $6.3 trillion, accounting for 15% of retail cross-border payments in 2024.

Beyond transaction volume, Defi-Planet also reveals that the number of active Stablecoin wallets increased from 19.6 million to 30 million within 12 months—a surge of over 53%, demonstrating more widespread real-world usage.

Furthermore, Axios points out that we are witnessing a "trillion-dollar game of thrones" for Stablecoin dominance among major players such as Tether (USDT) and Circle (USDC), and even PayPal, which has seriously entered the field with its PYUSD launch.

When Major Corporations Enter the Stablecoin Arena

Financial technology giants like PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, Circle, and JP Morgan are actively developing innovations linked to Stablecoins, aiming to lead the transition of payment systems into the decentralized era.

For instance, Visa is developing APIs for sending and receiving Stablecoins across different Blockchains, and Circle is working to make USDC widely accessible to business users.

The entry of these players signals confidence in the potential of Stablecoins, not just as speculative assets, but as tools for building new financial infrastructure.

Future Trends: From Innovation to Infrastructure

If DeFi and Stablecoins continue their growth trajectory, they will evolve beyond mere innovations to become the new financial 'infrastructure' driving the future digital economy.

With DeFi gaining increased acceptance as the core of an open financial system, its key features are trustless transactions, programmability, and verifiable transparency.

Stablecoins, too, are no longer viewed merely as "coins with stable value" but are becoming central to global digital payments.

However, long-term success hinges on several factors, such as:

Regulatory Clarity: Laws that foster safe development without stifling innovation.

Interoperability with Traditional Financial Systems: Seamless access to bank accounts or credit cards, for example.

Credibility of Issuers: Particularly concerning the collateralization and transparency of backing assets.

Collaboration from Mainstream Financial Institutions: Their participation in development, co-issuance of coins, or utilization of this infrastructure in their own services.

If all sectors can develop in a balanced way, the future of digital finance, leveraging the advantages of DeFi and Stablecoins, may not be far off.

Opportunities in the New Digital Financial System

The resurgence of DeFi and the increasing use of Stablecoins are creating new opportunities for investors.

According to TechTarget, DeFi is gaining more traction as the "backbone" of an open financial system. Its trustless and programmable features are making tokens from platforms like Aave, Compound, and Uniswap attractive to investors once again.

Meanwhile, a report from Payments CMI indicates that Stablecoin-related infrastructure—such as currency conversion solutions, connectivity to banking systems, and service providers like Visa—is becoming a target for investment from businesses and banks.

Additionally, Defi-Planet notes that the growing number of wallets actively using Stablecoins is a sign that this infrastructure is starting to see sustainable use in the global financial system. This leads some investors to view Stablecoin infrastructure as another alternative asset class with future potential.

Despite the numerous opportunities, investing in DeFi and Stablecoins still carries regulatory and technological risks. Investors must closely monitor developments from both governmental bodies and service providers.

Summary

2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal turning point for the digital financial system. DeFi and Stablecoins have demonstrated the potential for accessing, managing, and transferring financial value without relying on intermediaries. The growth in users, impressive transaction volumes, and the participation of global organizations indicate that a decentralized financial system is not just an innovation but is steadily becoming an established financial infrastructure.

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