Stablecoins Vie for In-Store Payments as Cutting Transaction Delays Becomes Critical

Stablecoin payments are moving from e-commerce checkouts into physical stores, where the challenge extends beyond on-chain settlement to compatibility with existing checkout processes. WalletConnect CEO Jess Houlgrave said as much as 80% of retail transactions in some countries still take place offline. Stablecoins can become everyday payment infrastructure only if merchants do not need to understand blockchains or tokens or replace their terminals, she said.

WalletConnect announced an integration with smart point-of-sale provider iMin on April 21, 2026, bringing stablecoin payments to existing devices; PYMNTS reported on the rollout on April 28. Houlgrave said customers cannot be expected to wait an extra 20 seconds for asset conversion: payments must be completed within seconds, with identity and compliance data moved to the wallet interface. The companies did not disclose the investment amount, fees or number of stores where the service would launch.