For years, this has been the preserve of central banks, commercial banks – via the Swift system, for example – and a range of regulated financial intermediaries. Other types of digital assets, such as tokenised deposits issued by commercial banks, are also in the battlefield seeking common usage. It is also causing nervousness in central banks and among traditional players in the areas of banking and payments. Big global retailers are also reportedly examining the use of their own stablecoin, as are some big US financial houses. Whether the technology can jump from its current use – mainly for cross-border and crypto transactions – into the retail area remains to be seen.

Source: The Irish Times January 03, 2026 17:35 UTC