Amazon and Walmart are actively evaluating the introduction of their own U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins, a move that could significantly disrupt the payments landscape and reduce their reliance on traditional banking and credit card networks. Sources indicate both retail giants have held internal discussions about creating digital currencies tailored for their vast customer bases, or alternatively, partnering with existing stablecoin providers.

The primary motivation behind these initiatives is to minimize the billions of dollars lost annually to credit card transaction and interchange fees, which currently benefit networks like Visa and Mastercard. By adopting stablecoin-based payments, Amazon and Walmart could offer customers faster, cheaper, and more efficient transactions—potentially settling payments instantly rather than waiting days for traditional card processing. This would also streamline global e-commerce operations and enhance cross-border payment capabilities.

Other major companies, including Expedia and several U.S. airlines, are reportedly exploring similar stablecoin strategies, signaling a broader industry shift toward blockchain-powered payment solutions.

However, the timing of these plans is closely tied to ongoing legislative efforts in Washington. The U.S. Senate recently advanced the GENIUS Act, a bill designed to establish a regulatory framework for private stablecoin issuance and set clear compliance standards for anti-money laundering and collateralization. The outcome of this legislation will likely determine how aggressively Amazon, Walmart, and other corporations pursue their stablecoin ambitions.

If regulatory clarity is achieved, the adoption of proprietary or consortium-backed stablecoins by major retailers could fundamentally reshape how billions of dollars in consumer payments are processed in the United States.