Coinbase expands stablecoin utility through Thunes partnership

Coinbase has entered a strategic partnership with Thunes to integrate its stablecoin infrastructure with Thunes’ global payment network. The collaboration aims to facilitate international payments, including corporate supplier settlements, gig economy worker compensation, and family remittances. While Coinbase provides the stablecoin foundation, Thunes offers connectivity to local bank accounts and mobile wallets across more than 140 countries and 90 currencies.

Recent data from a joint study by Coinbase and The Block Pro Research highlights the rapid growth of the stablecoin sector. Transaction volumes for stablecoins have quadrupled since early 2023, reaching an adjusted $891 billion in the third quarter of 2026. The study notes that approximately 73 percent of this volume occurs outside of traditional US banking hours, driving demand for 24/7 crypto-based networks.

Furthermore, the report indicates that cross-border payments using stablecoins, such as USDC on the Base Layer-2 network, can reduce fees by up to 86 percent compared to traditional bank transfers. The rise of “Agentic Finance,” involving autonomous AI agents, is also projected to coordinate significant trading volumes via digital dollar rails by 2030.