Visa is releasing a new report showing how bank-level protections could significantly boost American interest in using stablecoins to send money abroad.

The survey of more than 2,000 US consumers finds that Americans are looking for faster and more affordable ways to send money to family and friends overseas, while still expecting strong security protections.

The company says adoption intent rises from 36% to 56% when stablecoins, or dollar-pegged crypto assets, include fraud protection and deposit insurance, similar to what banks offer.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents say trust depends more on the provider than the technology itself. Meanwhile, willingness to use stablecoins climbs from 36% to 45% when offered through an existing financial institution.

Traditional banks and global payment networks command the highest trust for digital currency services at 61% and 60%, respectively.

Despite the potential rise in US stablecoin adoption, over half of Americans have never heard of dollar-pegged crypto assets, believing prices swing like Bitcoin (BTC).

The report also reveals that 36% of respondents have encountered cross-border payment scams.

The study notes that 44% worry about AI deepfakes impersonating family members and 24% have received AI-generated scam messages that appear real.

About one in five senders cut their own spending to support family abroad.

Says Vira Platonova, Global Head of Visa Direct,

“Remittances are a lifeline—funding education, essentials, and investment back home. Our research shows what matters most to those who rely on that lifeline: trust. The future of the industry will be won by the providers that work hardest to earn that trust.”

The survey notes that stablecoins are not currently covered by deposit insurance such as FDIC, and the protection scenarios are hypothetical.

Featured Image: Shutterstock/Tithi Luadthong/Natalia Siiatovskaia