Elon Musk’s X, Apple & Google in Early Talks to Integrate Stablecoins: Report

This week, Fortune reported that Apple, Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter), Airbnb, and Google have held initial discussions with crypto firms to embed stablecoins into their payment systems.

Stablecoins are on track to reshape digital payments. In 2024, venture capital poured over $1.5 billion into stablecoin startups, up 80 percent from the prior year. If each integrates even one dollar-pegged token, trillions could flow through blockchain rails.

Stablecoins Emerge as “Killer App”

For years, the crypto industry chased a killer app to break into mainstream finance. Stablecoins—digital tokens tied to the U.S. dollar—now appear to fit that role.

By June 2025, U.S.-dollar stablecoins like USDC and Tether (USDT) accounted for over $200 billion in circulating supply.

These tokens can settle cross-border transfers in seconds at fractions of a cent per transaction, compared to the 1–3 percent fees levied by traditional networks.

Big Tech’s entry signals a shift. Apple has processed over $2 trillion in payments via Apple Pay, giving it the scale to test blockchain rails.

Sources say X is in talks with Stripe on stablecoin support. Meanwhile, Google Cloud accepted two PYUSD payments from customers this month, setting a precedent for cloud-based invoicing in crypto, according to Fortune.

Big Tech’s Early Crypto Moves

Since January, Apple has held private meetings with Circle to explore USDC integration. A source told Fortune that Matt Cavin, Circle’s senior director of strategic partnerships, attended talks.

Elon Musk’s X has reopened crypto conversations after pausing NFT projects in 2023. Sources told Fortune that X met with Stripe to discuss stablecoin rails for X Money.

Stablecoin momentum accelerated after Stripe acquired Bridge for an undisclosed sum. Bridge’s technology enables real-time stablecoin minting and settlement.

The acquisition sparked “millions in venture funding” for similar projects, according to Haun Ventures partner Chris Ahn speaking to Fortune.

Regulatory winds also shifted. Under the Trump administration’s executive order, federal agencies must “develop a framework to reduce unnecessary barriers to responsible innovation” in digital assets.

This signaled to Big Tech that compliance for stablecoins is attainable. The GENIUS bill, under consideration, would set capital, reserve, and auditing rules for the U.S.-dollar stablecoins. Industry insiders say passing that bill could accelerate integration timelines.

Banks and fintechs already use stablecoins to trim cross-border costs by over 70 percent. Big Tech stands to save billions.

For Airbnb, which processes hundreds of billions in bookings annually, a 1 percent transaction fee reduction equals $1 billion saved.

Sources told Fortune that Airbnb has held stablecoin talks with Worldpay since January. Worldpay’s recent partnership with stablecoin infrastructure firm BNVK positions it to facilitate Airbnb payouts via USDC or USDT.

Yet tech giants face hurdles. Tether’s USDT, which holds 60 percent of total stablecoin market share, faces ongoing compliance scrutiny.

USDC’s issuer, Circle, recently completed an IPO in, but faces uncertain ownership. PayPal’s PYUSD has low adoption despite its partnership with Paxos.

A Fortune source advised that some Big Tech firms may consider minting proprietary stablecoins, though Senate proposals seek to restrict corporate-issued tokens.

What Comes Next?

Fortune’s reporting confirms that all conversations are preliminary. There’s no guarantee that any of these firms will launch stablecoin features before year-end.

Companies like Meta and Uber have also expressed “study phase” interest, per Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi at a Bloomberg conference on May 25, 2025.

For now, the takeaway is clear: stablecoins have crossed an adoption threshold. From $40 billion in total supply in early 2021 to $210 billion, their growth has outpaced nearly every crypto sub-sector. As Apple, X, and Google weigh integration, the question shifts from “if” to “when.”

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