Visa found that more than half of U.S. adults have never heard of stablecoins, highlighting a major awareness gap around digital payment technology.
The company’s latest survey showed that trust, security protections, and financial institution involvement remain key factors influencing adoption. Many respondents still associate stablecoins with volatile cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin.
The findings come as payment companies continue exploring stablecoins for cross-border transactions and digital finance.
Visa survey shows limited stablecoin awareness among U.S. adults
A Visa survey released Wednesday found that 56% of U.S. adults have never heard of stablecoins. Among those familiar with the technology, many incorrectly believe the tokens fluctuate in value like bitcoin.
The findings appeared in Visa’s Money Travels 2026 report, which examined how technology is changing remittances and international payments. Morning Consult conducted the survey for Visa among 2,192 U.S. adults between Feb. 24 and March 2.
The wider study included 45,445 respondents across 20 global markets. Visa said the results show that awareness remains a challenge as digital payment tools expand.
The survey also examined how additional protections could influence stablecoin adoption. When respondents considered a scenario involving bank-level fraud protection and deposit insurance, interest in using stablecoins increased from 36% to 56%.
Visa noted that stablecoins do not currently receive protections from deposit insurance programs such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
Trust in the provider also played a major role in adoption decisions. According to the survey, 64% of respondents said confidence depends more on the organization offering a payment method than the underlying technology.
When stablecoins came through an existing financial provider, willingness to use them increased from 36% to 45%.
Financial institutions remain central to digital currency trust
Traditional financial institutions received stronger confidence ratings from respondents when asked about digital currency services. Commercial banks gained trust from 61% of participants, while global payment networks received 60%.
The results suggest that many consumers may prefer digital currency products connected to familiar financial providers rather than unfamiliar platforms.
Visa’s research also highlighted concerns around international payment scams. About 36% of respondents said they had encountered fraud linked to sending money across borders.
Fake messages, account impersonation and fraudulent investment schemes ranked among the most common scams reported by participants. The survey found that 24% of respondents had received AI-generated messages that appeared authentic.
Concerns around artificial intelligence misuse also affected consumer confidence. Around 44% of respondents said they feared AI-generated deepfakes could impersonate family members.
The report showed that international payments create financial pressure for some users. About one in five respondents said they reduced their own spending to support family members abroad.
“The future of the industry will be won by the providers that work hardest to earn that trust,” said Vira Platonova, Global Head of Visa Direct.
Visa has expanded its involvement in stablecoin-related payment services. The company said it now supports more than 160 stablecoin-linked card programs, nearly three times the number it had a year earlier.
The survey results indicate that broader stablecoin adoption may depend on improving public awareness, strengthening consumer protections and increasing trust in the companies offering digital payment services.
