According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon and Walmart are considering entering the stablecoin market.
According to the report, citing people familiar with the matter, their efforts are part of a broader initiative to improve payment efficiency and reduce processing fees.
Amazon and Walmart's Stablecoin
According to the Wall Street Journal article, the two retail giants are considering various options, such as issuing their own digital currency or collaborating within a stablecoin consortium.
This initiative could bring significant changes to retail payment processing, allowing sellers to bypass traditional financial intermediaries like Visa or Mastercard.
These existing systems often impose high fees and slow settlement times. In contrast, stablecoins promise near-instant transaction finality and substantial cost savings.
Considering this, market experts pointed out that Amazon and Walmart's initiative reflects large corporations' desire to modernize payments using blockchain-based infrastructure.
The world's two largest retailers are trying to figure out how to either issue their own stablecoin or use an outside stablecoin…
— Nate Geraci (@NateGeraci) June 14, 2025
And there are *still* people who think (hope) crypto will all just go away.
It's comical at this point.
Not sure what else you need to see. pic.twitter.com/VXurff4UZo
Facing Regulatory Headwinds
Despite growing interest in stablecoins, the success of Amazon and Walmart's stablecoin ambitions depends on the evolving U.S. regulatory environment.
U.S. lawmakers are processing the National Innovation Act for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS Act). The bill has recently advanced in the Senate and is expected to be put to a final vote soon.
The bill aims to provide stability to the $251 billion stablecoin market by setting clear rules for issuance, reserve backing, and consumer protection. Supporters argue that clear regulation can increase public trust and foster innovation in the emerging industry.
However, the currently discussed GENIUS Act explicitly restricts non-financial companies from directly issuing stablecoins.
These restrictions could be a significant obstacle for companies like Amazon or Walmart. They would need to secure regulatory exemptions or operate through authorized bank subsidiaries.
Alex Son, research head at Galaxy Digital, noted that considering these points, retailers would likely need to establish or acquire a regulated financial institution. He added that they would need approval from the Federal Reserve, FDIC, and Treasury Department in this process.
Despite these complex processes, Amazon and Walmart's interest suggests that major retailers are preparing for a future where stablecoin payments become part of everyday commerce.
