Banks, corporations, and e-commerce: who leads in crypto integration

Now, governments are developing regulatory frameworks for digital assets, and banks are integrating stablecoins into their financial systems. The total market capitalization of the crypto market has already reached $3.5 trillion, while the number of companies accepting cryptocurrency payments continues to grow.

Banking sector

This area of the economy has changed the most so far, as many banks and even some large payment systems already use cryptocurrency. The European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which came into force in the summer of 2024, took a significant step in this direction.

For example, in April 2025, it was announced that Mastercard, one of the world's largest payment systems, began cooperating with issuers Circle and Paxos, integrating stablecoins such as USD Coin (USDC) and Pax Dollar (USDP) into its financial systems.

This means that over 150 million retailers worldwide can accept payments in USDC and USDP tokens, and Mastercard will automatically convert stablecoins into fiat currency.

In the same month, Circle announced plans to launch its international payment network, Payments Network (CPN), which will include major banks and other financial organizations.

In May of the same year, another payment system, Stripe, announced the launch of a new financial product called Stablecoin Financial Accounts, which will support accounts and payments in stablecoins USDC and USDB.

Other international payment systems such as Revolut, N26, and Wirex have not yet integrated cryptocurrency payments but have already allowed customers to purchase digital assets through their services.

Major banks like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have provided clients, including corporate customers, access to crypto-based financial instruments such as ETFs and futures.

Meanwhile, China is testing its central bank digital currency (CBDC), the e-CNY, which is integrated into services like Alipay and WeChat Pay.

The European Union is expected to launch the digital euro (ECB Digital Euro) in 2026–2027. This currency will operate via the blockchain infrastructure of European banks.

E-commerce

One of the largest tech giants in the world, Microsoft, was one of the first companies to accept Bitcoin payments in some of its stores as early as 2014. As of May 2025, Microsoft is the largest company in the world by market capitalization, exceeding $3.4 trillion — surpassing NVIDIA, Apple, and even Bitcoin in this metric.

Many luxury car dealers, such as Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Porsche, as well as fashion brands Gucci and Balenciaga, accept cryptocurrency payments.

Major fast-food chains are testing crypto payments in some countries like Brazil and Venezuela. Subway and Starbucks were among the first to start this, followed by McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, and Papa John's. The American restaurant chain Steak N Shake began accepting Bitcoin payments using the Lightning Network (LN).

"Corporate" cryptocurrencies

Some companies from the traditional sector are not only targeting the use of digital assets but are seriously planning to launch their cryptocurrencies.

There are rumors that Amazon plans to launch its token, Amazon Coin, although it is not yet known when this asset will be issued or how it will be used. In 2013, the company released a virtual currency called Amazon Coins, which served as a medium of exchange within the Amazon Appstore.

According to the company's official website, Amazon ceased issuing Amazon Coins on February 20, 2025. On August 20 of the same year, funds for all unused virtual coins will be returned to users. This may be related to a possible launch of its digital token.

Previously, the company confirmed plans to add support for cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum for product payments and launch its own initiative related to non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

In 2021, amid the hype around digital assets and NFTs, the world's largest retail chain, Walmart, patented several trademarks indicating its readiness to enter the cryptocurrency industry. CNBC reported in 2022 that Walmart planned to launch its digital asset and metaverse.

The American multinational financial conglomerate JPMorgan Chase issued its stablecoin, JPM Coin, 2019 to facilitate cross-border payments within the Interbank Information Network (IIN). By 2023, the daily transaction volume using JPM Coin will reach $1 billion.