Research Findings Show Gen Z Embraces Stablecoins More Than Baby Boomers Hold Back
In the rapidly evolving world of digital currencies, stablecoins have emerged as a popular choice among the younger generations, with Gen Z and Millennials leading the charge. A recent survey has revealed that 53% of respondents have already used stablecoins, and this number is expected to grow.
Stablecoins, digital currencies tied to the value of traditional currencies like the U.S. dollar, have seen a significant increase in global usage. As of 2025, stablecoin usage has grown by approximately 21.7% over the year, reflecting the increasing adoption across various demographics.
Younger generations, Gen Z and Millennials, are notably among the key drivers of this growth. Attracted by stablecoins’ utility as a fast, transparent, and inflation-resistant financial tool, they are embracing this digital currency for its numerous benefits.
Inflation hedging, remittances and cross-border payments, financial inclusion and access, tech familiarity and digital convenience, and regulatory clarity are some of the key factors driving Gen Z and Millennials’ interest in stablecoins.
Globally, stablecoins now process $27 trillion annually, dominating cross-border remittances and treasury settlements with near-zero fees. Despite this, stablecoin circulation currently facilitates around $30 billion daily in transactions, which remains under 1% of global money flows.
Mobile crypto wallet installations reached nearly 1 billion worldwide in 2025, increasing 13.8% year-over-year, providing further evidence of steady adoption, likely concentrated among younger, digitally native users.
However, challenges remain. Limited real-world acceptance is the main problem for 43% of stablecoin users, and to reach mainstream adoption, stablecoins need easier onboarding, cleaner design, plain English explanations, and more real-life uses.
Gen Z is the demographic that uses stablecoins the most, with 46% transacting monthly. The two most common motivations for stablecoin use are yield edge (37%) and inflation hedge (approximately 30%). Millennials, on the other hand, see stablecoins as a way to hedge against inflation (33%) and chase DeFi yield (30%).
Despite some concerns about price swings, Millennials are also showing interest in stablecoins. Gen X, while showing interest, is more cautious, taking a balanced approach towards adoption.
If developers, platforms, and businesses catch up, stablecoins could be the next big shift in how everyone handles money. As it stands, stablecoins are becoming a legitimate part of how Gen Z manages their money, leading the way in this digital revolution.
[1] Prolific Survey, 2025 [2] CoinMarketCap, 2025 [3] U.S. Congressional Research Service, 2025 [4] European Banking Authority, 2025 [5] Chainalysis, 2025
- Stablecoins, like Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC), which are pegged to traditional currencies, have seen exponential growth in global usage, particularly among the younger generations, including Gen Z and Millennials.
- These digital currencies, tied to the value of the U.S. dollar, offer advantages such as fast, transparent, and inflation-resistant finance, making them a popular choice for these generations.
- In a survey by Prolific Survey in 2025, it was revealed that 53% of respondents have already used stablecoins, and this number is expected to grow further.
- Stablecoins now process $27 trillion annually, dominating cross-border remittances and treasury settlements with near-zero fees. However, their circulation facilitates only around $30 billion daily in transactions, which remains under 1% of global money flows.
- Mobile crypto wallet installations, like those offered by MetaMask and Trust Wallet, reached nearly 1 billion worldwide in 2025, indicating a steady adoption among younger, digitally native users.
- To reach mainstream adoption and overcome issues such as limited real-world acceptance, stablecoins require easier onboarding, cleaner design, simplified explanations, and more real-life uses. Gen Z is leading the charge in this digital revolution, with 46% transacting monthly, largely motivated by the yield edge and inflation hedge mechanisms.
