CRYPTO: Stablecoins top ACH monthly transaction volume for the first time

Stablecoins moved more value than the US Automated Clearing House (ACH) network for the first time in February 2026, according to Artemis data. Adjusted stablecoin transaction volume reached $7.2 trillion for the month, versus $6.8 trillion for ACH and $1.2 trillion for Visa. The shift matches a late-2025 call from Galaxy Digital that stablecoins would surpass ACH by 2026. The change is being powered largely by institutional and wholesale activity, not retail usage. Average stablecoin transaction size remains in the $25,000 to $50,000 range, about 200 to 500 times larger than the typical Visa payment of $100 to $150. Settlement activity is concentrated on Ethereum and Tron, which together handle roughly two-thirds of global stablecoin volume. Stablecoin market capitalization has now climbed above $300 billion, led by Tether's $USDT and Circle's $USDC. Growth has accelerated as traditional finance firms such as SoFi, Western Union, and major European banks have launched or announced dollar-pegged tokens of their own.