The Standardization Revolution in the Digital World: The Rise and Impact of Stablecoins

On April 26, 1956, an old oil tanker named "Ideal X" set sail from Newark Port, carrying 58 uniformly sized sealed metal containers in its hold. This seemingly ordinary scene marked the beginning of the container era, bringing revolutionary changes to global trade.

The emergence of containers has completely reshaped the global supply chain structure. It has significantly reduced loading and unloading costs, shortening port operation times from 72 hours to less than 8 hours, with a turnover rate increasing by more than 8 times. This innovation has not only changed the shipping industry but has also profoundly affected the global trade landscape. According to research, containerization has led to a 790% increase in bilateral trade volumes among participating countries, far exceeding the effects that any form of free trade agreement at that time could achieve.

Decades later, in the digital world, a new "standard" is quietly rising - stablecoin. Its goal is not to change the essence of currency, but to provide a unified interface for global currency circulation. Although it still faces controversy, stablecoin has shown the potential to change the world.

Stablecoins were not widely recognized at their inception. Tech experts believed they lacked innovation, while cryptocurrency supporters questioned their centralized nature. However, the true value of stablecoins lies in integrating the liquidity of the internet into a consensus-based monetary standard.

By 2025, the global on-chain transaction volume of stablecoins is expected to exceed $27 trillion, approaching the annual total of the global card payment system. Among them, a well-known stablecoin accounts for nearly 60% of the total, with a market value exceeding $155 billion. The advantage of stablecoins lies in their on-chain liquidity, enabling rapid settlement across chains, countries, and accounts.

Stablecoins play an important role in financial inclusivity. Over 1.7 billion adults globally do not have bank accounts, but most have smartphones. Through digital wallets and stablecoins, they can easily access basic financial services such as receiving payments, transferring money, and managing wealth. In some countries facing economic hardship, stablecoins have even become alternative currencies, providing the public with a currency anchor and a hedging tool.

Stablecoins are gradually becoming the "containers" of the digital world. From cross-border payments and remittances to Web3 on-chain protocol settlement, and to AI agent smart settlement accounts, stablecoins are becoming the infrastructure for circulation in the financial system.

Why can standards change the world? Because standards represent order, not merely technological innovation. Standards must be shared, system-level, and their value lies in being widely accepted and used. Stablecoins are on a similar path, becoming a universal liquidity standard that allows for seamless collaboration between different systems.

Although stablecoins are still in the early stages of development, their impact has already begun to emerge. Hong Kong has passed relevant regulations, and several countries are advancing regulatory frameworks. Major payment companies have announced their support for stablecoins, while some emerging digital banks are adopting them as core business.

Stablecoins may not replace traditional central bank currencies, but they are likely to become the underlying protocol for value transfer between emerging technology fields such as Web3, AI, and the Internet of Things. Its significance lies not in completely overturning the existing financial system, but in improving efficiency, expanding inclusiveness, and providing a flexible value exchange mechanism for emerging technology ecosystems.

The future global clearing network may be built by algorithms, smart contracts, and consensus mechanisms, with stablecoins expected to become the basic unit of circulation within it. Although not yet widely recognized, stablecoins are quietly changing the way the financial world operates, much like containers did in the past, quietly but profoundly impacting the globe.