Stablecoins surpass US ACH in February as volume hits $7.2T

Stablecoins flipped the US Automated Clearing House (ACH) in February for the first time, underscoring surging demand for stablecoin payments. Blockchain analytics firm Artemis reported that stablecoin total 30-day adjusted rolling volume reached $7.2 trillion in February, compared with $6.8 trillion processed by the ACH network. The article notes ACH is the backbone of the US payments system and handles about 93% of salary payments in the US. Analyst Alex Obchakevich said stablecoins are becoming foundational infrastructure for global payments, citing the “no banks, no weekends, no borders” theme. Artemis data also showed momentum continued into March, with stablecoin volume at $7.5 trillion for the month, matching the ACH over the same 30-day window. Supply and trading signals reinforced the picture: CEX.IO data puts total stablecoin supply at $315 billion in Q1 2026, up $8 billion year-on-year. Stablecoins also represented 75% of total crypto trading volume in the quarter—the highest on record (per prior reporting). The catalyst cited is growing institutional adoption amid a warming US regulatory climate. Analysts referenced Standard Chartered’s view that the stablecoin market cap could reach $2 trillion by 2028 (over +530%). The GENIUS Act was highlighted as a key step enabling institutional use. Overall, stablecoins are gaining real-market share in payments while continuing to expand liquidity—supportive for broader crypto risk appetite.