Meta Pursues Stablecoin Payments Integration Across Apps for Late 2026, Opting for Third-Party Vendor Partnership

Meta Platforms Inc. (META.O) is planning to integrate stablecoin-based payment functionality across its family of applications, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, targeting an initial rollout in the second half of 2026.

The company has issued requests for product (RFPs) to third-party vendors to administer payments using dollar-pegged tokens and is developing a new digital wallet, marking its re-entry into the digital currency sector after the abandonment of its Diem (formerly Libra) project in 2022 amid significant regulatory opposition.

The current initiative represents a strategic shift from Meta’s previous approach. Instead of issuing its own token, the company intends to rely on an established infrastructure partner to mitigate regulatory exposure. This move aligns with a broader technology industry trend toward embedding stablecoin payments into social and messaging ecosystems.

Third-Party Vendor Strategy and Industry Positioning

Meta’s revised stablecoin strategy centers on outsourcing the core issuance and administration of the tokens to specialized financial technology firms. Stripe, a long-time payment partner of Meta, is a leading candidate to pilot the stablecoin integration. This follows Stripe’s acquisition of the stablecoin infrastructure specialist Bridge in 2024 and the appointment of Stripe CEO Patrick Collison to Meta’s board of directors in April 2025.

The company’s objective is to introduce a new digital wallet capability that allows its user base—exceeding 3 billion across its platforms—to conduct transactions using stablecoins. This would enable peer-to-peer payments, commerce transactions, and potentially cross-border remittances directly within Meta’s applications.

This initiative positions Meta in direct competition with other technology firms pursuing “super app” strategies, notably Elon Musk’s X platform and the messaging application Telegram, both of which are developing integrated payment systems that incorporate digital assets.

Regulatory Context and Historical Precedent

Meta’s renewed interest in stablecoins operates within a significantly altered U.S. regulatory environment compared to the period of its original Libra project launch in 2019. In July 2025, President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law, establishing the first comprehensive federal framework for payment stablecoin issuers in the United States. The legislation mandates that issuers must be permitted banks or licensed entities, maintain one-to-one reserves with U.S. dollars or highly liquid assets such as short-term Treasuries, and comply with monthly public attestation and anti-money laundering requirements.

The original Libra initiative, later rebranded as Diem, encountered insurmountable opposition from U.S. regulators and lawmakers. Concerns centered on privacy issues following the Cambridge Analytica scandal, the potential for the technology company to challenge central bank monetary sovereignty, and risks related to illicit finance. The project was formally shuttered in early 2022, with its intellectual property and assets sold to Silvergate Capital Corporation for $200 million.

The decision to utilize a third-party provider reflects lessons learned from the Diem experience, with the company preferring to maintain distance from direct regulatory oversight of the token itself.

Official Clarification on Token Issuance

Amid reports of the stablecoin integration plans, Meta has issued a clarifying statement regarding its role in the ecosystem. On February 25, 2026, Andy Stone, Meta’s Vice President of Communications, posted on social media platform X: “Nothing has changed; there is still no Meta stablecoin. This is about enabling people and businesses to make payments on our platforms using their preferred method.” The statement confirms that while the company is actively developing stablecoin payment functionality, it is not pursuing the issuance of its own branded token as it did with Libra/Diem.

Market Context and Stablecoin Adoption

Meta’s exploration of stablecoin payments coincides with a broader maturation of the stablecoin market. According to the Rapyd 2026 State of Stablecoins Report, business adoption of stablecoins has accelerated significantly, with 34% of surveyed businesses currently utilizing stablecoins and an additional 48% planning adoption within the next 12 months. The primary drivers identified include faster payments and settlements (cited by 72% of businesses), easier cross-border transactions (62%), and direct cost savings (60%).

The total circulating supply of stablecoins surpassed $300 billion in 2025, buoyed by institutional interest and the establishment of clearer regulatory parameters under the GENIUS Act framework. However, analysts at McKinsey & Company have noted that while on-chain volumes appear substantial, actual payment activity using stablecoins accounted for approximately 0.02% of global payments in 2025, suggesting significant room for growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Meta issuing its own stablecoin like the proposed Libra or Diem?

No. Meta has explicitly stated that it is not developing or issuing its own stablecoin. The company’s current strategy involves integrating with third-party vendors that administer existing stablecoins, allowing users to make payments on Meta’s platforms using dollar-pegged tokens as a payment method.

How does the current U.S. regulatory environment differ from when Meta attempted to launch Libra?

The regulatory landscape has shifted substantially with the enactment of the GENIUS Act in July 2025, which established the first federal framework for stablecoin issuers in the U.S. During the Libra/Diem period (2019-2022), there was no comprehensive federal framework, and the project faced direct opposition from the Federal Reserve and Treasury Department, which ultimately prevented its launch.

Which third-party vendors is Meta potentially partnering with for this initiative?

Stripe has emerged as a likely candidate for piloting Meta’s stablecoin integration. This is based on Stripe’s acquisition of the stablecoin infrastructure firm Bridge in 2024, its long-standing partnership with Meta, and the presence of Stripe CEO Patrick Collison on Meta’s board of directors. Meta has issued requests for product (RFPs) to multiple third-party firms, though specific contractual agreements have not been announced.