Panel Says 1 Billion New Users Will Enter Finance via Wallets and Stablecoins

2 articles · Updated · CoinGeek · Jul 13

Digital wallets and stablecoins could become the first financial products for the next billion users, panelists at Philippine Blockchain Week said, arguing many will access finance without ever opening a traditional bank account.
The Philippines was cited as evidence: a once cash-heavy economy now relies widely on phone payments, with platforms such as Coins.ph letting users move between pesos and stablecoins for QRPH purchases.
Stablecoins emerged as the clearest real-world blockchain use case because they can speed remittances, cut cross-border payment costs and provide dollar access in a country where overseas workers send billions home each year.
Trust, not technology, was described as the main barrier to mass adoption, with panelists pointing to education, regulation and simple user experiences as more important than hype.
The broader shift is convergence rather than disruption, with banks, fintechs and blockchain firms increasingly blending services as blockchain moves into the background of everyday finance.