Stablecoins, payments, and Fortune 500 adoption dominated the summit as crypto positions itself as a core financial infrastructure, not just a speculative asset class.
At Coinbase’s third annual State of Crypto Summit in New York on June 12, a clear message came through: Crypto’s speculative years are giving way to real-world adoption, with stablecoins, tokenization, and institutional buy-in driving the next era of digital finance.
The overarching tone of the summit was pragmatic optimism. Yes, prices still fluctuate, but crypto infrastructure is now powering a wide range of businesses and services across e-commerce, lending, payments, and loyalty — all with real users, growing volumes, and global footprints. Executives from Coinbase, Shopify, American Express, and other companies outlined how crypto is increasingly intersecting with the mainstream economy, while athlete-investor Saquon Barkley offered a candid perspective on financial freedom, literacy, and wealth-building as crypto becomes more accessible to everyday consumers.
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Key Takeaways from the Summit
Across almost every panel, stablecoins emerged as crypto’s most practical tool for payments, lending, payroll, and cross-border transactions. Multiple speakers referred to 2025 as stablecoins’ “breakout year.” Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke emphasized that stablecoins and crypto payments are now viable options in e-commerce checkouts, solving long-standing inefficiencies in global online transactions. Jesse Pollak, head of Coinbase’s Base blockchain, argued that the key infrastructure is finally in place — stablecoins, on-chain identity, seamless payments — to trigger widespread crypto adoption much sooner than many expect.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong echoed those sentiments, but pointed to Bitcoin’s parallel rise as another sign of crypto’s growing role in the global economy. As inflation accelerates and governments continue deficit spending, Armstrong said more people are seeking alternatives to traditional financial systems—and are increasingly turning to Bitcoin as a hedge and store of value.
“People are turning to Bitcoin as a refuge from inflation and deficit spending, and it’s ultimately going to be a check and balance on this kind of activity,” Armstrong said. “If this continues, there’s a very good chance Bitcoin becomes the next reserve currency in the world.”
New Financial Partnerships
Coinbase used the summit to debut its latest product move: the Coinbase One Card, a crypto-powered credit card issued on the American Express network.
The card promises up to 4% Bitcoin rewards on everyday purchases, combining familiar credit card perks with native crypto incentives. This product aims to bridge the gap between traditional payments and digital assets, delivering everyday spending rewards while introducing more consumers to Bitcoin and stablecoins through familiar behavior.
Alongside the Amex card, Coinbase also deepened its partnership with Shopify, one of the world’s largest e-commerce platforms. Shopify merchants will now be able to integrate USDC stablecoin payments via Coinbase’s Base blockchain directly into their checkout experience, streamlining transactions, lowering fees, and expanding their global reach.
Key Insights from Coinbase’s 2025 State of Crypto Report
Coinbase also released its latest edition of The State of Crypto report, offering fresh data on the accelerating role of stablecoins across global business and finance.
Some of the most notable data points from the report include:
- Stablecoins are booming: Over 161 million people worldwide now hold stablecoins. The total stablecoin supply grew 54% year-over-year. In 2024, stablecoin transfer volume reached $27.6 trillion, surpassing the combined volume of Visa and Mastercard by over 7%.
- Fortune 500 adoption is accelerating: Nearly one in five Fortune 500 executives now consider on-chain initiatives a core part of their corporate strategy, representing a 47% year-over-year increase. The number of companies exploring stablecoin usage has tripled since last year.
- SMBs see a significant upside: 82% of crypto-aware small and medium-sized business (SMB) leaders believe that crypto can help solve at least one of their top financial pain points, which include cross-border payments, transaction fees, and payroll efficiency.
- Regulation remains key: 90% of Fortune 500 executives say clear, consistent U.S. regulation is essential for continued crypto innovation. Legislative momentum could pave the way for broader adoption.
Bottom Line
The 2025 State of Crypto Summit underscored that crypto’s next phase is already unfolding — but this time, it’s not about price charts and speculation. Instead, it’s about real-world utility, regulatory alignment, financial inclusion, and consumer products built on top of stable, scalable infrastructure. Coinbase — alongside its partners and policymakers — is making a deliberate effort to position stablecoins as the quiet engine driving the next era of global finance.
The summit’s closing reception featured an Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 car on display, a nod to Coinbase’s newly launched partnership with the F1 team earlier this year. The activation underscored Coinbase’s growing presence across global sports and culture as crypto expands beyond finance.
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