Stablecoin adoption among retail users continues to soar, with transactions under $250 reaching $5.84 billion in August—the highest ever recorded—according to a new report by CEX.io. Year-to-date volumes have already surpassed 2024 totals, marking 2025 as the busiest period yet for consumer-level stablecoin transfers.

The report highlights stablecoins, pegged to fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar, as increasingly integrated into everyday financial activity, including cross-border remittances and microtransactions. A survey of over 2,600 consumers in Nigeria, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Indonesia found that nearly 70% use stablecoins more frequently than last year, citing lower banking fees and faster transfers as primary drivers. Over 75% expect usage to continue rising.

Blockchain Shifts: BSC and Ethereum on the Rise, Tron Falls
Activity distribution across blockchains is shifting. Tron (TRX), historically popular for retail stablecoin transfers due to low fees, saw a 6% decline in monthly transaction counts, losing ground to competitors.

Binance Smart Chain (BSC) emerged as the new leader for retail users, accounting for nearly 40% of retail stablecoin activity. BSC transaction counts jumped 75% this year, with volumes up 67%, fueled by the European delisting of USDT and renewed memecoin trading on PancakeSwap.

Ethereum, including its mainnet and layer-2 networks, now accounts for over 20% of transfer volume and 31% of transaction counts. Sub-$250 transfers on Ethereum’s mainnet rose 81% in volume and 184% in count, aided by a 70% drop in transaction fees, making the network more competitive for small retail transfers.

The report underscores a broader trend of stablecoins becoming a mainstream tool for retail finance, with BSC and Ethereum increasingly capturing consumer attention while Tron’s share declines.