[PRESS RELEASE – Amsterdam, Netherlands, August 14th, 2026]
USDT stays the dominant stablecoin by enterprise transaction quantity on NOWPayments, however new platform information exhibits USDC gaining momentum quick. In H1 2026, USDC transaction rely elevated by 209.02% year-over-year, and transaction quantity rose by 101.63%, whereas USDT transaction exercise declined over the identical interval.
The result’s an more and more differentiated stablecoin panorama: USDT continues to supply the dimensions and liquidity companies depend on globally, whereas USDC is rising as a rising various, notably for firms navigating regulated European infrastructure.
Stablecoins are not used solely to simply accept crypto funds. Companies are more and more counting on USDT and USDC to maneuver cash all through their day by day operations, from affiliate commissions and provider settlements to market payouts, payroll, treasury transfers, and buyer withdrawals. As extra firms construct these workflows round digital property, stablecoins have gotten an essential a part of enterprise infrastructure fairly than merely one other cost choice.
Drawing on USDT and USDC transaction exercise throughout the NOWPayments platform between 2025 and 2026, this report examines how enterprise stablecoin utilization is evolving and the blockchain networks supporting that exercise.
*Except in any other case acknowledged, all figures confer with USDT and USDC transaction exercise processed by way of the NOWPayments platform.
Stablecoins Are Changing into Enterprise Infrastructure
For a lot of companies, accepting a crypto cost is barely step one. As soon as funds are acquired, they nonetheless want to maneuver by way of the enterprise. Suppliers must be paid, associates obtain commissions, market sellers withdraw earnings, workers accumulate salaries, and finance groups switch working capital between accounts.
As an alternative of changing each incoming cost into fiat, many companies now preserve a part of their working funds in stablecoins and use them straight for day-to-day settlements.
Widespread operational use circumstances embody:
- Affiliate and referral commissions
- Provider and contractor funds
- Market vendor withdrawals
- Payroll for distributed groups
- Creator and influencer payouts
- Treasury transfers
For a lot of companies, stablecoins now assist each incoming funds and outgoing transfers inside the similar operational workflow.
Enterprise Stablecoin Adoption: USDT and USDC
The info reveals a transparent divergence between scale and momentum. USDT stays the dominant stablecoin by transaction quantity, whereas USDC is rising considerably sooner from a smaller base.
USDT Nonetheless Leads Enterprise Stablecoin Quantity
USDT continues to account for the most important share of enterprise stablecoin transaction exercise, notably by transaction quantity.
USDT’s lead stays substantial, at the same time as its transaction exercise declined 12 months over 12 months. In H1 2026, USDT transaction rely declined 1.55% in contrast with H1 2025, whereas transaction quantity fell 14.99%. Even so, USDT accounted for 66.92% of stablecoin transaction quantity on NOWPayments in H1 2026. Its considerably increased share of transaction quantity than transaction rely (41.32%) means that USDT continues to play a very essential position in higher-value enterprise transfers.
USDC Positive factors Momentum Quick
USDC is turning into an more and more essential a part of enterprise stablecoin adoption.
USDC stays a lot smaller than USDT by general transaction share, however it’s exhibiting considerably stronger progress. In H1 2026, USDC transaction rely elevated 209.02% 12 months over 12 months, whereas transaction quantity rose 101.63% 12 months over 12 months.
Its share of stablecoin transaction rely additionally elevated from 2.88% in 2025 to 4.94% in 2026, whereas its share of transaction quantity rose from 5.52% to 8.95%. Whereas NOWPayments information doesn’t clarify particular person enterprise selections, the rise in each USDC transaction exercise and transaction share signifies that USDC is gaining floor alongside USDT on the platform.
Community Selection Provides One other Layer to Stablecoin Technique
Stablecoin selection is barely a part of the infrastructure choice. Companies additionally choose networks based mostly on transaction prices, settlement velocity, recipient compatibility, and ecosystem assist.
Companies utilizing NOWPayments can course of stablecoin transactions throughout a number of blockchain networks, together with:
USDT
- TRON
- Ethereum
- BNB Sensible Chain
- Polygon
USDC
- Ethereum
- Base
- Polygon
- Arbitrum
Two Stablecoins, Two Enterprise Benefits
The divergence between USDT and USDC isn’t solely about transaction progress. The 2 property more and more supply companies completely different benefits: USDT combines international scale and liquidity, whereas USDC has a clearer place inside Europe’s MiCA-regulated setting.
USDT and USDC Beneath MiCA
For international operations, USDT’s liquidity and broad ecosystem assist stay important benefits. For companies centered on Europe, USDC’s regulatory positioning could make it simpler to combine with regulated crypto infrastructure. For firms working throughout each environments, supporting each property can present higher flexibility.
Companies on the lookout for an in depth authorized evaluation can discover NOWPayments’ evaluation of USDC below MiCA and comparability of USDT and USDC below MiCA, which study the regulatory framework and its sensible implications for cost and payout infrastructure.
MiCA doesn’t prohibit companies or people from holding or transferring USDT. Nevertheless, regulated exchanges, custodians, cost suppliers, and different crypto asset service suppliers might apply restrictions based mostly on their very own compliance obligations.
What the Findings Imply
NOWPayments information factors to a stablecoin market outlined by two completely different strengths. USDT stays the dimensions chief, accounting for 66.92% of stablecoin transaction quantity in H1 2026. USDC stays a lot smaller, however its 209.02% progress in transaction rely and 101.63% progress in transaction quantity present considerably stronger momentum.
For companies, the rising image is much less about selecting a winner and extra about selecting the best infrastructure for the market: USDT for international liquidity and established transaction scale and USDC for rising adoption and a clearer regulatory place in Europe.
“For a lot of companies, the query is not essentially USDT or USDC. Supporting each can present extra flexibility throughout markets, companions, and operational necessities,” mentioned Kate Lifshits, CBDO of NOWPayments.
About NOWPayments
NOWPayments is a crypto enterprise ecosystem designed to assist firms settle for funds, automate mass payouts, handle stablecoin treasury, and scale international digital asset operations by way of a single infrastructure. Supporting 350+ cryptocurrencies, 30+ stablecoins, versatile settlement choices, and enterprise-grade APIs, the platform helps companies construct scalable international cost operations. With 99% of funds accomplished in below one minute, near-instant e mail payouts, enterprise automation, and 24/7 operational assist, NOWPayments gives the infrastructure companies must monetize, transfer, and handle digital property at scale.
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