Brian Foster, the Global Head of Wholesale at Coinbase, expects a massive expansion in stablecoin utility as digital assets transition from trading tools to foundational payment rails. During a recent appearance on The Defiant’s Converge podcast on July 10, 2026, Foster detailed how the underlying infrastructure for programmable commerce is finally mature enough to support institutional scale.
While the executive has highlighted projections that the stablecoin market cap could reach nearly $3 trillion in the next five years, the focus at Coinbase has shifted toward enabling 24/7 settlement for the global wholesale market.
The push for adoption comes as Coinbase reinforces its position as the primary distribution engine for USDC. The company currently holds an average of $19 billion in USDC across its various products, representing more than 25% of the total USDC currently in circulation. Foster noted that traditional financial institutions are increasingly looking toward “Crypto-as-a-Service” (CaaS) to manage treasuries and fiat-onramps without the friction of legacy banking hours.
com/vaneck-grayscale-spot-bnb-etf-filing-updates-analysis-2026/”>asset managers like VanEck and Grayscale continue to iterate on digital product filings to meet growing demand.
Efficiency gains in agentic stablecoin commerce
A central pillar of Foster’s outlook involves machine-to-machine payments, often referred to as agentic commerce. He described stablecoins as “tailor-made” for these use cases due to their ability to facilitate sub-second and sub-cent transactions. AI agents require programmatic settlement that doesn’t rely on human intervention or traditional banking silos that take days to clear. Foster’s team is now working on a “huge initiative” specifically dedicated to stablecoin-enabled payments to capture this emerging sector.
The technical performance of Coinbase’s own infrastructure supports this shift toward high-frequency programmatic payments. Research indicates that the Base network, Coinbase’s layer-2 blockchain, has handled more than 90% of onchain agentic stablecoin transaction volume. This dominance suggests that developers are gravitating toward networks that prioritize speed and low costs for autonomous transactions.
com/bitcoin-exchange-supply-eight-year-lows-analysis/”>investor sentiment shifts toward utility-based onchain activity, these automated systems appear poised to drive the next wave of volume.
Institutional scaling and the path to $3 trillion
The timeline for market maturity often references a five-year window for radical growth. Foster has previously cited expectations from industry figures like Scott Bessent, who suggested stablecoins could reach a $3 trillion market cap by 2031. This growth is not merely speculative; rather, it is driven by a younger generation that demands 24/7 financial access and a wholesale sector eager to eliminate the counterparty risks inherent in correspondent banking.
Existing market data underscores the scale of current activity. 1 trillion by the end of 2024, despite roughly 88% of that volume being tied to exchange trading and arbitrage. For institutions, the transition to real-world payments requires the “regulated, transparent” framework that Coinbase is building through its infrastructure business.
com/ethereum-price-prediction-analysis-dex-growth-trends/”>Ethereum network outlook remains a focal point for decentralized growth, the integration of layer-2 solutions like Base is providing the throughput necessary for banks to move their balance sheets onchain.
The future of global digital payment rails
Looking ahead, the distinction between traditional fintech and crypto-native finance is expected to blur as institutions adopt “Stablecoin-as-a-Service.” Foster believes the mechanical advantages of blockchain protocols—such as the elimination of intermediaries—will eventually make legacy wire transfers look obsolete. While regulatory clarity in the United States remains a developing story, the economic incentives for cheaper, faster, and more transparent settlement are proving difficult for global money movers to ignore.
Coinbase is positioning itself to capture every phase of the stablecoin lifecycle, from issuance and distribution to infrastructure and retail payments. With high-profile moves like MoneyGram’s rollout of MGUSD to 60 million users, the template for mass adoption is already being tested. For Foster and his team at Coinbase Institutional, the next five years will be defined by whether they can successfully move the world’s wholesale transaction volume onto the rails they have built.