Two-Thirds of Asia-Pacific Consumers Know Stablecoins, Yet Only 6% Understand Them

Awareness Outpaces Understanding as Asia-Pacific Consumers Eye Stablecoins

Nearly half of consumers across Asia Pacific say they would consider using stablecoins within the next five years, according to a large-scale Visa survey — yet the same research exposes a striking comprehension gap that sits beneath that headline appetite.

The Visa Consumer 360 study, conducted between June and July 2026, surveyed 14,250 adults aged 18 to 65 across 14 Asia-Pacific markets. Its findings present a region where familiarity with stablecoins is spreading rapidly, but accurate knowledge of how they function remains rare.

The Numbers: Enthusiasm Meets Ignorance

Sixty-six percent of respondents said they were aware of stablecoins, and 46% indicated they were likely to use one within the next five years. Usage has already begun: 16% reported having used a stablecoin in the past 12 months.

Yet the comprehension data undercuts any straightforward optimism. Only 6% of respondents demonstrated an accurate understanding of how stablecoins actually work. Among those who were aware of stablecoins, 49% believed they can only be used to buy and sell other cryptocurrencies — a significant misreading of a technology increasingly deployed for payments, remittances and treasury management. Separately, 41% of respondents held the mistaken belief that stablecoins always increase in value, conflating them with speculative crypto assets.

The survey found that two-thirds of Asia-Pacific consumers have heard of stablecoins — yet fewer than one in ten can accurately explain how they work.

Market-Level Variation Is Stark

Awareness levels vary considerably across the region. Hong Kong recorded the highest stablecoin awareness at 84%, followed by India at 80% and Thailand at 77%. Intent to use tells a different story: Vietnam and India tied for the strongest forward-looking adoption signal, with 67% of respondents in each market saying they were likely to use stablecoins within five years.

The cross-border payments dimension adds further context. Forty-nine percent of respondents believed stablecoins could become a common way to move money across borders within five years — a finding that carries weight in a region defined by large remittance corridors and significant migrant worker populations.

Why the Knowledge Gap Matters

Analysts would note that the combination of high intent and low comprehension creates a structural risk: consumers drawn to stablecoins without understanding their mechanics — including the conditions under which a peg can be stressed — may be poorly positioned to assess counterparty or custodial risk. Regulatory frameworks across Asia Pacific are at varying stages of development, meaning consumer protection standards differ substantially by jurisdiction.

Visa's Commercial Position

The survey does not exist in isolation from Visa's own stablecoin ambitions. In December 2025, Visa launched a Stablecoins Advisory Practice through its Visa Consulting & Analytics division, offering guidance to financial institutions on stablecoin strategy and implementation. At the same time, the company disclosed that its stablecoin settlement volume had reached a $3.5 billion annualised run rate as of 30 November 2025.

The broader market context supports the urgency: global stablecoin supply grew more than 50% during 2025, reaching $274 billion in December 2025 from $186 billion in December 2024, according to data cited by Visa's consulting arm.

Regulatory Momentum

The survey arrives at a moment when stablecoin regulation across Asia Pacific is an active policy question in multiple jurisdictions. Editors' note: this section will be completed and fact-checked against verified regulatory developments before publication; no regulatory claims have been included in this version pending source verification.

Why It Matters

The Visa data captures a pivotal inflection point. Consumer openness to stablecoins is measurable and, in some markets, significant — but it has run well ahead of the financial literacy needed to support informed adoption. For banks, payment providers and regulators weighing stablecoin strategy in the region, the comprehension deficit identified by the study may be as consequential as the adoption figures themselves.