AI microbusinesses could drive $262 billion in stablecoin volume by 2033, according to a report from Australian crypto exchange Swyftx. The report highlights that AI-native workers within the expanding gig economy could increasingly opt for stablecoins to circumvent slow and costly traditional payment systems.
Swyftx’s second-quarter industry report estimates that the global gig and freelance payments market could reach $2.1 trillion by 2033, with AI-enabled workers contributing an estimated $775 billion. The base-case model projects that approximately 33% of this payment volume, or $262 billion, will be settled in stablecoins.
Pav Hundal, lead market analyst at Swyftx, stated, “We see the vibe-coding and AI economy as a significant potential tailwind for stablecoin use. Adoption doesn’t happen just because the technology exists. It happens when the economics are compelling, and the rules are clear. For stablecoins, both of those conditions are now falling into place.”
Stablecoins have witnessed a doubling in market cap over the past two years, reaching a record $1.79 trillion in volume in June. This growth signals a rising demand for payment utility.
The report indicates that the smallest firms, particularly those with fewer than five employees, are among the quickest to adopt AI technologies. This trend has led to a new class of solo entrepreneurs, with the number of these workers projected to increase from between six to 10 million globally today to 17 million over the next decade.
Utilizing stablecoins could save freelancers thousands of dollars in annual transfer fees. If Swyftx’s projections hold true, the institutional settlement layer supporting these transactions—encompassing over-the-counter liquidity, custody, and yield services—could create a new revenue stream estimated at $1.3 billion by 2033, assuming total transaction, liquidity, and custody costs of 0.5%.
Traditional cross-border payment methods face criticism for high fees and lengthy settlement times, often excluding users in over 50 countries. Swyftx explained that stablecoin transfers via Ethereum layer-2 networks can reduce fees by 80% to 90%, potentially saving freelancers about 86% in transfer costs annually.
The report also suggests that AI payment agents, which cannot obtain bank accounts, may further drive stablecoin volume as they rely on crypto assets for transactions.
