A new Visa study, conducted between June and July 2026, surveyed 14,250 individuals aged 18 to 65 across 14 markets in the Asia-Pacific region. The findings, released on October 5, 2026, highlight a significant gap between consumer interest and technical understanding of stablecoins.
While 66% of participants are aware of stablecoins, only 6% demonstrate an accurate grasp of how they function. Notably, 41% of respondents incorrectly believe that stablecoins always increase in value, despite their design to maintain a steady price by tracking reference assets.
Adoption intent remains high, with 46% of consumers likely to use stablecoins within the next five years, compared to 16% who reported usage in the past 12 months. Interest is particularly strong in Vietnam and India, where 67% of respondents express plans to adopt these assets.
Security concerns remain a barrier, as 38% of those aware of stablecoins but not using them cite fears of fraud or scams. When choosing issuers, 27% of respondents prefer government-linked stablecoins, while 26% favor those backed by regulated financial institutions.
Market awareness varies significantly across the region, with Hong Kong leading at 84%, followed by India at 80% and Thailand at 77%. Additionally, 49% of all surveyed consumers identify potential for stablecoins in facilitating cross-border transfers over the next five years.
