Meta, the tech giant behind Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, is reportedly planning a major return to the cryptocurrency space with a new stablecoin initiative set for the second half of 2026.
Meta's Stablecoin Strategy
According to sources familiar with the plans, Meta is aiming to integrate stablecoin technology into its platforms, potentially opening payment rails to its massive user base of over 3 billion people. The company is reportedly working with a third-party vendor to facilitate stablecoin-based payments and implement a new wallet system.
One source indicated that Meta has sent out requests for proposals to potential partners, with Stripe emerging as a likely candidate for piloting the stablecoin project. Stripe's acquisition of stablecoin specialist Bridge last year, combined with Stripe CEO Patrick Collison joining Meta's board of directors in April 2025, makes this partnership particularly plausible.
Competitive Landscape
This move would position Meta in direct competition with other tech giants expanding into crypto payments. Elon Musk's X platform and Telegram are both developing their own payment systems as part of broader "super app" strategies. Meta's stablecoin initiative could leverage WhatsApp's peer-to-peer messaging service along with Facebook and Instagram's commerce tools to create a comprehensive payment ecosystem.
Learning from Past Mistakes
This isn't Meta's first attempt at entering the stablecoin market. The company famously launched the Libra project in 2019 (later renamed Diem), which faced significant regulatory pushback and was ultimately shut down in early 2022. The project struggled with regulatory challenges and reputational issues stemming from the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
However, the regulatory environment has shifted significantly since then. The GENIUS Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump, has established a legal foundation for U.S. stablecoin issuers for the first time. This regulatory clarity has opened doors for new market entrants that weren't available during Meta's initial stablecoin attempt.
A More Cautious Approach
Sources indicate that Meta has learned from its previous experience and is taking a more cautious approach this time. Rather than developing its own stablecoin from scratch, the company appears to be focusing on partnering with established third-party providers to handle the stablecoin infrastructure.
"They want to do this, but at arm's length," said one source familiar with the plans.
This strategy could help Meta avoid some of the regulatory scrutiny that plagued the Libra/Diem project while still enabling the company to offer cryptocurrency-based payments to its massive user base.
Potential Impact
If successful, Meta's stablecoin integration could revolutionize how billions of people conduct transactions online. By bypassing traditional banking fees and leveraging existing social networks, Meta could position itself as a global leader in social commerce and cross-border remittances.
The company's vast user base across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram provides a ready-made market for any payment system it implements, potentially accelerating cryptocurrency adoption on a scale never seen before.
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