Meta Platforms Inc. is planning a comeback in the stablecoin space — but this time, it’s taking a very different approach.
The company is targeting the second half of 2026 to roll out stablecoin payouts for creators across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The goal is simple: make small international payments — especially around $100 — cheaper and faster.
Stripe likely to power the system
Instead of launching its own coin, Meta plans to use third-party stablecoins. According to reports, the likely partner is Stripe through its Bridge platform.
Stripe bought Bridge in October 2024 for about $1.1 billion. In February 2026, Bridge received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national trust bank charter. That approval clears the way for regulated stablecoin issuance and custody under U.S. rules.
Stripe CEO Patrick Collison also joined Meta’s board in April 2025, strengthening ties between the two companies.
A clear break from Libra
This move is very different from Meta’s failed 2019 crypto project, Libra, later renamed Diem.
Back then, Meta tried to create its own global digital currency backed by a basket of assets. Regulators pushed back hard, worried that a private company was trying to build something that looked like its own monetary system. The project was eventually shut down.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly told Stripe’s leadership in 2025 that Diem was officially dead.
Now, instead of issuing a coin, Meta wants to act as a distribution channel. It will plug into existing stablecoin systems rather than control one itself. In short, Meta wants to stay at arm’s length from direct issuance.
The regulatory landscape has changed
One major difference this time is the law.
The GENIUS Act, signed in 2025, created a federal framework for fully reserved payment stablecoins in the U.S. That gives companies like Meta and Stripe clearer rules to operate under.
Back in 2019, there was no such framework. Now there is.
Stripe said in its 2025 annual letter that Bridge’s transaction volume has quadrupled as stablecoins quietly expand into real-world payments — beyond just crypto trading.
Why this matters
Meta’s platforms serve around 3 billion users worldwide. Many creators earn small payments from international audiences. Traditional wire transfers and foreign exchange fees can eat into those payouts.
Stablecoins could:
- Lower cross-border transfer costs
- Speed up settlement times
- Reduce reliance on traditional banking rails
It would also help Meta compete with platforms like X and Telegram as companies race to build “super app” ecosystems.
What’s still unknown
Several big questions remain:
- Which stablecoins will Meta support?
- Will transactions happen directly on blockchain networks, or will users never see that layer?
- Who will handle wallets and custody?
- Will the rollout begin outside the U.S.?
For now, both Meta and Stripe have declined to comment publicly.
But one thing is clear: Meta isn’t trying to reinvent money anymore. It’s trying to use what already exists — this time with regulators on its side.
