Amazon, Walmart Explore Plans to Launch Stablecoins: Report

US retail giants Amazon and Walmart are reportedly considering the possibility of launching their own stability.

This move could change the way consumers pay for goods online, while helping large retailers reduce expensive transaction fees.

Cheaper payment alternatives

Both companies are considering whether to create a specific brand of coins or adopt external stablecoins through consortiums that may be led by merchants, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Amazon’s efforts are still in the early stages of planning. Sources familiar with the matter said the company is discussing the potential of internal tokens that can be purchased on its platform. Walmart is also weighing similar options and has been lobbying for reforms in the payments sector that is innovative in digital payments.

By using Stablecoins, giant retailers can bypass traditional financial systems, while merchants currently pay 1% to 3% per card transaction. For companies that handle high transaction volumes, this fee can reach up to billions of dollars a year. Stablecoins offers the opportunity to cut those costs, with the added benefit of almost instantly resolving time compared to one to three business days required for card payments.

The move comes as other major e-commerce players begin adopting a Stablecoin-based trading system. Shopify recently announced plans to fully integrate USD Coin (USDC) payments into its platform through Coinbase’s Ethereum layer network base.

The feature was launched through Shopify Payments and Shop Pay, with an official kick-off date set at the end of this year. The payment mechanism has also been applied to selected merchants and includes incentives such as 1% cash return in local currency.

Implementation still depends on clear regulations

However, the stable use of future use by major retailers may depend on upcoming legislation. The proposed Genius Act aims to create a clear regulatory framework for such digital assets in the United States, recently clearing another procedural step, but still requires Senate and House approval.

The final Senate vote on the bill is scheduled to take place on June 17. Meanwhile, trade groups have been actively interacting with legislators to support their adoption. The Merchant Payment Alliance believes that stable clear rules will enable lower-cost payment options and introduce more competition to visas and Mastercards.

Meanwhile, major U.S. banks, such as JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup and Wells Fargo, are also in the early stages of discussions about opening joint stable joint ventures.