Bridging the divide: Merchant adoption of digital assets has stalled | Opinion

Although we’re seeing digital assets increasingly utilised across the financial ecosystem, merchant adoption remains stagnant when compared to consumer uptake. For me, the primary issue is not a lack of technological advancement; it’s the significant gap in education and a disconnect between what digital asset brands are promoting and what merchants actually need.

If we fix this disconnect, there are huge benefits for all parties. New technology ultimately allows merchants the ability to move money across borders swiftly, cost-effectively, and securely, while also reducing settlement times dramatically. It’s a tale as old as time: those businesses that adopt new technology have a competitive advantage versus slower movers, with better cash flow, an increase in consumer loyalty, and better relationships with suppliers. So if the benefits are clearly there, why is there a gap?

The disconnect between hype and reality

I believe the primary reason for the stalled adoption of digital assets by merchants is a lack of educational material around the technological changes. One of the biggest hurdles is the lack of ‘show and tell’ education for traditional merchants. They need to understand the practical benefits of digital asset infrastructure, such as the speed and transparency of stablecoin settlements.

The conversation the industry has had with merchants up to this point has focused too much on a technological shift and not enough on the necessary mindset shift for business owners. Instead of highlighting client benefits, the intense competition among digital asset providers to hoover up clients has actually hindered adoption. This is reminiscent of the initial challenges with contactless payments, where mass adoption was only achieved after a concerted effort to bridge the gap with education and building trust. The issue is just as much about a change in mindset as it is about a change in technology. Many business owners are inherently wired to reject change or anything they perceive as risky, especially when finances and payments are involved.

Merchants want solutions that solve their real pain points: cost, integration, volatility, and customer demand. While many businesses have been attracted to the lower transaction fees and faster settlements offered by crypto payments, volatility remains a significant concern. This is where stablecoins play a crucial role. They reduce the risk of value fluctuations while maintaining the benefits of blockchain transactions. The ability to receive and settle funds quickly is a huge advantage for merchants, and stablecoins are particularly well-suited for this, especially for cross-border transactions where traditional methods incur high conversion costs and can only be completed during limited time windows.

Unlocking trust

To make crypto payments viable at scale, we need to build trust. Increased government promotion of stablecoins and the use of trusted spokespeople are crucial steps for gaining traction and trust among merchants. My belief is that authorities similar to the United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority, or CMA, which typically advocate for consumer benefit, have a huge role to play in promoting stablecoins as the future of money movement. However, there still exists an “old school mentality” and a disconnect between traditional banks and authorities.

While the path forward may seem complicated, the potential for growth is immense. The primary competitive advantage for merchants adopting stablecoin-based payments is the ability to receive and settle funds faster. Although political influences and currency valuation will continue to impact crypto due to its reliance on fiat-backed coins, the digital infrastructure will become even more advanced within the next three years, which should lead to greater merchant adoption.

Bridging this trust gap requires a unified effort to move past the hype and focus on the practical, tangible benefits for merchants. By prioritising education and clear communication, we can unlock new growth opportunities for both businesses and the broader digital asset ecosystem. This involves not only showcasing the speed and cost-effectiveness of stablecoins but also demonstrating how they can help businesses eliminate chargebacks, reach new global markets, and improve cash flow.

My view has always been that the future of payments is digital, but new technology alone is not going to get merchants there. What we need is to build trust. Only once we have that can we start to see mass merchant adoption.

Kreeson Thathiah

Kreeson Thathiah is the Group CFO of XBD Group. He is an accomplished finance executive with 20 years of financial services experience, steering XBD’s financial strategy and global payments expansion, having previously worked at eToro as their UK CFO and Global Director of Payments.