USDT Still Leads Stablecoin Volume as USDC Gains Momentum, NOWPayments Data Shows
[PRESS RELEASE – Amsterdam, Netherlands, August 14th, 2026]
USDT stays the dominant stablecoin by enterprise transaction quantity on NOWPayments, however new platform knowledge reveals 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 size and liquidity companies depend on globally, whereas USDC is rising as a rising different, significantly for firms navigating regulated European infrastructure.
Stablecoins are now not used solely to simply accept crypto funds. Businesses 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 belongings, stablecoins have gotten an necessary a part of enterprise infrastructure quite than merely one other fee possibility.
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.
*Unless in any other case said, all figures discuss with USDT and USDC transaction exercise processed by the NOWPayments platform.
Stablecoins Are Becoming Business Infrastructure
For many companies, accepting a crypto fee is simply step one. Once funds are acquired, they nonetheless want to maneuver by the enterprise. Suppliers should be paid, associates obtain commissions, market sellers withdraw earnings, workers acquire salaries, and finance groups switch working capital between accounts.
Instead of changing each incoming fee into fiat, many companies now hold a part of their working funds in stablecoins and use them instantly for day-to-day settlements.
Common operational use circumstances embrace:
- Affiliate and referral commissions
- Supplier and contractor funds
- Marketplace vendor withdrawals
- Payroll for distributed groups
- Creator and influencer payouts
- Treasury transfers
For many companies, stablecoins now assist each incoming funds and outgoing transfers inside the identical operational workflow.
Business Stablecoin Adoption: USDT and USDC
The knowledge 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 Still Leads Business Stablecoin Volume
USDT continues to account for the biggest share of enterprise stablecoin transaction exercise, significantly by transaction quantity.

USDT’s lead stays substantial, even as its transaction exercise declined yr over yr. 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 greater share of transaction quantity than transaction rely (41.32%) means that USDT continues to play a very necessary function in higher-value enterprise transfers.
USDC Gains Momentum Fast
USDC is changing into an more and more necessary a part of enterprise stablecoin adoption.

USDC stays a lot smaller than USDT by total transaction share, however it’s displaying considerably stronger progress. In H1 2026, USDC transaction rely elevated 209.02% yr over yr, whereas transaction quantity rose 101.63% yr over yr.
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%. While NOWPayments knowledge doesn’t clarify particular person enterprise choices, the rise in each USDC transaction exercise and transaction share signifies that USDC is gaining floor alongside USDT on the platform.
Network Choice Adds Another Layer to Stablecoin Strategy
Stablecoin selection is simply a part of the infrastructure resolution. Businesses additionally choose networks based mostly on transaction prices, settlement velocity, recipient compatibility, and ecosystem assist.
Businesses utilizing NOWPayments can course of stablecoin transactions throughout a number of blockchain networks, together with:
USDT
- TRON
- Ethereum
- BNB Smart Chain
- Polygon
USDC
- Ethereum
- Base
- Polygon
- Arbitrum
Two Stablecoins, Two Business Advantages
The divergence between USDT and USDC shouldn’t be solely about transaction progress. The two belongings 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 surroundings.
USDT and USDC Under MiCA
For international operations, USDT’s liquidity and broad ecosystem assist stay vital 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 belongings can present higher flexibility.
Businesses in search of an in depth authorized evaluation can discover NOWPayments’ analysis of USDC under MiCA and comparison of USDT and USDC under MiCA, which look at the regulatory framework and its sensible implications for fee and payout infrastructure.
MiCA doesn’t prohibit companies or people from holding or transferring USDT. However, regulated exchanges, custodians, fee suppliers, and different crypto asset service suppliers might apply restrictions based mostly on their very own compliance obligations.
What the Findings Mean
NOWPayments knowledge factors to a stablecoin market outlined by two completely different strengths. USDT stays the size 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 many companies, the query is now 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 a single infrastructure. Supporting 350+ cryptocurrencies, 30+ stablecoins, versatile settlement choices, and enterprise-grade APIs, the platform helps companies construct scalable international fee operations. With 99% of funds accomplished in underneath one minute, near-instant e mail payouts, enterprise automation, and 24/7 operational assist, NOWPayments offers the infrastructure companies must monetize, transfer, and handle digital belongings at scale.
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