Stablecoins are becoming central to a new financial system, says Coinbase. The crypto exchange believes it will soon replace traditional payment networks and power transactions by people and AI agents.

Coinbase vice president Shan Aggarwal described stablecoins as the 'future of global payments,' especially when combined with self-custodial wallets. These internet-native bank accounts could expand digital commerce to billions, including those without access to traditional banking.

The firm is building tools like x402 and AgentKit to support AI agents that can autonomously send, receive, and manage stablecoins. Such systems are designed to work around the clock, without the limits of legacy infrastructure.

Beyond the crypto sector, Coinbase sees stablecoins transforming payments for small businesses and underserved regions. By 2030, the company expects nearly everyone online to interact with them, whether knowingly or not.