“The rise of stablecoins may represent the most significant shift in how money works since the introduction of the fiat system.” That was the central message delivered by digital assets expert Jan Scheele at Varrlyn's anniversary event in Amsterdam.
Scheele, an entrepreneur and Digital Leader at the World Economic Forum, made the case that stablecoins are gaining ground not as a speculative asset, but as a practical solution to real problems in the global financial system. Pegged to stable assets, most commonly the US dollar, though gold-backed stablecoins are also gaining traction, they offer the speed, accessibility, and consistency that modern finance increasingly demands.
What was once dismissed as fringe technology has quietly moved to the center of mainstream finance. The IMF, SWIFT, ABN AMRO, ING, Visa, and PayPal are all now actively building in the stablecoin space — a shift that would have been difficult to imagine just a few years ago. The EU's MiCA regulation and the US GENIUS Act have given institutions the legal clarity to act, and the industry has responded accordingly.
The numbers back it up. JPMorgan estimates global payment transaction costs at $120 billion annually. Early stablecoin adopters like PayPal are already reporting savings of 90% to 95% on cross-border transactions. Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and BNY Mellon are using blockchain for instant capital market settlement, eliminating delays that currently freeze trillions of dollars in pipelines for up to two days.
Scheele closed with three trends to watch: a rapid expansion in stablecoin adoption, crypto exchanges obtaining banking licences, and the growing convergence of AI and digital currencies, with AI agents increasingly using stablecoins for autonomous transactions.
Cofounder Antoanela Chiritescu of Aument: "We are witnessing the early stages of something that will reshape the industry entirely. The institutions that move with intention today will be the ones defining this space tomorrow. We think this is one of the most consequential shifts in a generation, and we intend to be part of it."
Reach out with your questions, concerns and challenges.
Or just to say hi. We’ll be happy to assist.
