In the last few years, stablecoins have stopped being just something people trade for profit. Instead, they are becoming a practical legal tender that millions of people around the world earn as income, pay for services, send money to family, and work with clients across borders. Stablecoins are digital currencies that are pegged to real- world money like the US dollar, so their value does not swing wildly up and down–these include USDC, USDT, and PYUSD.
The Stablecoin Utility Report 2026, a comprehensive global study created by BVNK in partnership with YouGov, Coinbase, and Artemis, provides clear evidence of this shift from theory to real‑world use.
The study surveyed 4,658 adults across 15 countries, all of whom either held cryptocurrency or planned to acquire it in the near future. Respondents answered questions about why they hold stablecoins, how they use them, and what benefits they see in receiving and spending stablecoins compared to using traditional financial services like banks or remittance services.
Jemi Motesho
Why People Find Stablecoins Useful for Income
One of the most striking results from the report is that 39% of people surveyed said they receive income in stablecoins. In many cases, this is part of their paycheck, payment from freelancing, or business revenues. They reported that stablecoins make up around 35% of their total annual income. This is a major portion of their yearly earnings, showing that stablecoins are being used like money earned through work rather than a speculative investment.
