Meta is quietly planning to plug stablecoin payments into Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp as early as the second half of 2026 — but this time it would do so as a distribution channel, not as a coin issuer. What’s happening - According to a CoinDesk report citing three people familiar with the plans, Meta has issued requests for proposals to external infrastructure firms to enable stablecoin payouts to creators and other users. Stripe has emerged as the likely partner, with Meta targeting H2 2026 for the rollout of creator payouts under the new arrangement. - Rather than resurrecting its old ambition to mint a proprietary currency (see 2019’s Libra/Diem), Meta plans to integrate existing stablecoin rails “at arm’s length,” acting as a payments conduit rather than an issuer. Why Stripe and Bridge matter - The expected partner is Stripe’s Bridge platform. Stripe acquired Bridge in October 2024 for about $1.1 billion and Bridge secured conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for a national trust bank charter in February 2026 — a sign of how the regulatory landscape has shifted. - Stripe CEO Patrick Collison joined Meta’s board in April 2025, adding a notable governance link between the two companies. - Stripe’s 2025 annual letter said Bridge’s transaction volume had quadrupled as stablecoins expanded into mainstream use, calling stablecoin payments a quietly advancing trend. Context and timing - Meta’s pivot reflects lessons from its earlier stablecoin push. Libra/Diem, launched in 2019, encountered strong regulatory resistance and was ultimately shelved — Mark Zuckerberg reportedly told Stripe’s John Collison the project was dead, per Fortune (May 2025). - Regulatory headwinds have eased somewhat: the GENIUS Act, signed in July 2025, created the first federal framework for U.S. stablecoin issuers, making an integration built on regulated infrastructure more feasible. Why Meta is interested - The company’s stated priority is reducing costly international creator payouts, especially small transfers (around $100) that are currently hit hard by wire fees and FX margins. Meta’s family of apps reaches roughly 3 billion users, so cheaper and faster cross-border settlements could materially reduce costs and improve the creator experience. - A stablecoin-powered solution could speed up payouts and lower fees compared with traditional banking rails, while helping Meta compete with rivals like X and Telegram as social platforms evolve into “super apps.” Unknowns and open questions - Several implementation details remain undecided: which stablecoins would be supported, whether transactions would settle on-chain or be abstracted away from blockchains, how custody and wallets would be managed, and how global rollout and compliance across jurisdictions would work. It’s also unclear whether Meta would pilot the system first in non-U.S. markets. - Meta declined to comment on the CoinDesk report, and Stripe did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Bottom line Meta’s possible move to integrate regulated stablecoin rails via a third-party provider represents a cautious, compliance-aware reboot of its earlier ambitions. If executed, it could materially change how creators and cross-border users get paid — but meaningful technical, regulatory and product decisions still need to be resolved before a H2 2026 launch. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

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