Fintech Giants Compete in Crypto Payments: Who Will Dominate the Market by 2026?

Once cautious about crypto assets, financial technology giants have now become new engines driving industry development. Industry observers note that leading fintech companies such as PayPal, Stripe, Klarna, and Revolut are each infiltrating the crypto ecosystem in their own unique ways. 2026 is likely to be a turning point in this competition.

**Stablecoin Deployment at the Payment Level**

PayPal has taken the lead, with its self-developed stablecoin PYUSD becoming a bridge connecting traditional finance and the blockchain world. The company focuses on integrating stablecoins with blockchain payments to create a seamless cross-border settlement experience. Stripe is moving toward infrastructure development, investing in underlying stablecoin technology and preparing to launch a payment-oriented blockchain network. Both are vying for dominance in the payment terminal space.

**Settlement and Compliance as Dual Drivers**

Klarna’s approach differs; its exploration of issuing its own stablecoin aims to optimize settlement efficiency and penetrate crypto applications from a B2B perspective. This model can both accelerate transaction speed and strengthen control over customer fund flows.

In contrast, Revolut’s advantage lies in holding a MiCA (EU Crypto Asset Regulation) license, enabling smoother expansion of crypto trading and cross-border payment services. As regulatory clarity increases, possessing a compliant license becomes a scarce resource.

**Why 2026 Is a Critical Milestone**

Behind this collective action by fintech companies reflects an optimistic outlook for crypto payment penetration across the industry. As infrastructure improves, regulatory frameworks are established, and user awareness increases, 2026 may see a deep integration of fintech and crypto ecosystems. Those who take early positions are poised to gain an advantage in the next round of competition.