Stablecoin market opens 2026 with a new record above $310 billion

Based on the latest figures, the stablecoin economy has moved past its mid-December all-time high, surpassing the previous record by $364 million and pushing comfortably above the $310 billion mark. Data from DefiLlama shows total stablecoin market capitalization now stands at approximately $310.426 billion, setting a fresh record at the start of 2026.

Over the past seven days, about $2.873 billion has flowed into the stablecoin market. Of that amount, $662.84 million came from newly issued USDT, bringing Tether’s total market capitalization to roughly $186.595 billion. Circle’s USDC followed, adding $1.741 billion in supply, a 2.32% increase over the week, lifting its market cap to around $76.649 billion as of Jan. 16.

Ethena’s USDe posted a 2.57% weekly gain, translating into inflows of $162.21 million and reclaiming its position as the third-largest stablecoin with a market cap near $6.468 billion. In contrast, Sky’s USDS declined 6.8% during the week, shedding $452.57 million to stand at $6.207 billion. Sky’s DAI ranked fifth with a market value of $4.687 billion after rising 3.92%.

Further down the list, PayPal’s PYUSD edged up to $3.685 billion, while World Liberty Financial’s USD1 climbed to approximately $3.509 billion. Several stablecoins saw modest pullbacks, including Falcon Finance’s USDf, Circle’s USYC, and Global Dollar’s USDG. Ripple’s RLUSD was largely flat, hovering around a $1.385 billion valuation.

Within the top 20, a number of mid-sized stablecoins recorded solid gains, with notable performers including USDD, USDY, and U coin, each posting double-digit weekly increases.

Overall, the latest seven-day data suggests the stablecoin market is not only setting new records but also broadening its base. While a handful of tokens posted declines, the majority of the sector entered 2026 with fresh inflows, reshuffled rankings, and an expanding roster of contenders contributing to a total market size now well above $310 billion.