AI Microbusinesses Could Boost Stablecoin Volume to $262 Billion by 2033

Australian crypto exchange Swyftx estimates that AI-enabled microbusinesses could drive $262 billion in stablecoin volume by 2033, based on an assumed adoption rate of roughly 33%. This projection comes as the global gig and freelance payments market is expected to reach $2.1 trillion by 2033, with AI-native workers accounting for $775 billion.

The growth of solo entrepreneurs and small firms in AI adoption has created a new class of users who are sensitive to remittance and transaction fees, making stablecoins an attractive option. According to Swyftx, these solo founders could save thousands of dollars in annual transfer fees by using stablecoins instead of traditional cross-border rails.

In fact, stablecoin transfers using Ethereum layer-2 networks can cut fees by 80% to 90%, saving the average freelancer about 86% per year in transfer fees. Swyftx also notes that AI agents cannot get bank accounts, so they will likely use crypto assets for payments, further driving demand for stablecoins.

Pav Hundal, lead market analyst at Swyftx, believes that adoption of stablecoins is driven by economics and clear rules, rather than just the existence of technology. He notes that the growth of AI-native workers and solo entrepreneurs creates a significant potential tailwind for stablecoin use.