Stablecoins: Payments without intermediaries

Stablecoins, cryptocurrencies pegged to assets like the U.S. dollar, are presented as a way to bring the internet's open, intermediary-free model to money, with the article arguing that clear regulation is needed to unlock adoption. The article says international remittances can cost up to 10% in fees, and that sending $200 from the U.S. to Colombia costs $12.13 by traditional methods versus $0.01 with stablecoins. It cites stablecoins moving $15.6 trillion in value in 2024, roughly matching Visa's volume, and says Stripe offers 1.5% on crypto checkout, half what incumbents charge.