As financial institutions update their infrastructure for the digital age, stablecoins are emerging as a foundational building block for programmable finance. Financial institutions have a unique opportunity to lead in framing the narrative, positioning stablecoins as digital money rails that enable new models for payments, liquidity and custody across the financial services value chain. The opportunities to streamline infrastructure and create value are rich, but success will depend on an understanding of the rules as well as the responsible and compliant execution.
Stablecoins have transitioned from a niche digital innovation to a mainstream financial solution, facilitating USD 47 trillion in transactions in the last 12 months alone1. Some of the world’s most prominent organisations are already innovating with stablecoins to bridge the crypto and fiat worlds, streamline financial infrastructure or create new possibilities in treasury.
For financial institutions, transitioning to stablecoin-driven solutions brings various opportunities. Stablecoins allow faster settlement, programmable transfers, real-time liquidity and cross-platform interoperability, which can all unlock measurable value across trading, treasury, asset management, payments and custody services.
Stablecoin adoption is shaped fundamentally by regulation. Swiss financial institutions must navigate both domestic rules and cross‑border requirements, particularly in relation to the EU’s MiCA framework. The Swiss Federal Council’s proposed amendments to the Financial Institutions Act signal a shift towards more explicit regulation to remove constraints such as deposit limits while enhancing credibility by giving client funds better protection.
Companies choosing the path of stablecoin innovation should make sure they understand the rules (including those applying across borders) and consider how their specific use case aligns with the broader regulatory landscape.
Use cases for stablecoins in financial services
In the end, the true measure of success will not be the volume of coins issued or held, but the extent to which stablecoins meaningfully enhance service quality, eliminate friction and create durable, profitable revenue models. With a clear and bold strategy, financial institutions can transition from mere observers to global pioneers, driving the next era of digital finance in a manner that is trustworthy and scalable.
1Source: Visa Onchain Analytics, https://visaonchainanalytics.com/transactions
Download the full publication
The publication highlights selected applications that illustrate potential stablecoin use cases for financial institutions.
Contact us
Director, AWM Strategy & Transformation, Digital Asset CoE Lead, PwC Switzerland
+41 79 238 62 78
Olga Voldiner
Senior Manager, Strategy & Transformation, Digital Asset CoE, PwC Switzerland
+41 58 792 44 00
Cecilia Peregrina
Federico Rodriguez