In this episode of Evolutionary Exchanges, David Powell and Freddie Krone discuss why stablecoins are rapidly moving up the strategic agenda for banks, regulators and consumers. Drawing on insights from Evolution Partners’ forthcoming 2026 Banking Trends Report, they explain what stablecoins are, how they differ from cryptocurrencies and central bank digital currencies, and why adoption is accelerating.

They explore emerging use cases in payments and cross‑border transactions, the implications for financial inclusion, and the reasons stablecoins represent both a major opportunity and a material risk for incumbent banks. With regulatory momentum building - particularly in the US - the episode looks ahead to what the next phase of stablecoin adoption could mean for the global banking landscape.