"Mastercard Just Unlocked 150 Million Merchants for Crypto"

### 💡 Deeper Implications and Future Outlook **Will stablecoins truly replace traditional wire transfers and card payments?** While not a full replacement yet, they are becoming a competitive alternative for specific use cases like cross-border B2B payments, remittances, and instant merchant settlements due to their speed and lower cost . **What is the primary business pain point that stablecoins solve for merchants?** They offer **near-instant settlement**, often within minutes, compared to the traditional 2-5 business day delay, which dramatically improves cash flow and working capital management . **How significant are the cost savings for cross-border transactions?** Stablecoin transfers can cost pennies compared to the $25—$50 typically charged for traditional international wire