Stablecoin market expected to reach $3 trillion by 2030
Spark CEO Sam McPherson forecasts the stablecoin market will grow from $300 billion to $3 trillion by 2030, driven by institutional adoption and new regulations. He argues that stablecoins are the primary driver of institutional entry into crypto.
The stablecoin market has remained flat throughout 2026, holding steady rather than shrinking during the current bear market. Sam McPherson, CEO of Spark, views this plateau as a positive step forward compared to previous cycles. Citing data from Cetrini Research, McPherson noted that while stablecoins moved tens of trillions of dollars on-chain last year, only a small fraction represented actual payments. He forecasts the market will expand from its current valuation of approximately $300 billion to about $3 trillion by 2030.
McPherson expects this growth to accelerate after the Genius Act takes effect in January 2027, which will enable major banks and institutions to launch compliant stablecoins. Spark positions itself as a neutral credit layer and liquidity provider for this multi-stablecoin environment, currently working with PayPal, Ripple, and Robinhood. McPherson argued that stablecoin adoption is the primary driver of institutional crypto entry and that Spark's role as a neutral liquidity layer is essential for the upcoming wave of bank-issued stablecoins. He noted that onshore stablecoin payments are not yet widespread but will likely expand as AI agents and institutional adoption reduce banking frictions and wire fees.