Shopify, one of the world’s leading e-commerce platforms, is taking a major step toward crypto adoption by introducing native support for USDC stablecoin payments. Starting later this month, select U.S. merchants will be able to accept payments in USD Coin (USDC), a digital currency backed 1:1 by the U.S. dollar.

This new payment option comes through a partnership with Coinbase and Stripe, two of the most prominent names in the crypto and fintech industries. With this integration, Shopify merchants will gain access to a streamlined system for accepting digital dollars, and shoppers will enjoy faster and potentially cheaper cross-border transactions.

A Major Move Into Crypto Payments

While Shopify has long supported crypto transactions via third-party plug-ins, this initiative marks the company’s first native integration of a stablecoin payment system. According to a report from Fortune, the pilot program will begin in the United States, with plans to expand across Europe by the end of 2025.

Stablecoins like USDC have seen a rapid increase in usage over the past two years. As cited in a recent blog post from Stripe, stablecoin payment volumes have climbed from $2 billion to over $6.3 billion monthly, underlining a growing shift toward digital currencies for real-world transactions.

Unlike volatile cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, stablecoins are designed to maintain a consistent value. USDC, issued by the crypto firm Circle, offers the benefits of crypto—speed, efficiency, and accessibility—without the price swings that make many tokens unsuitable for everyday commerce.

How It Works: Coinbase and Stripe at the Core

The Shopify rollout is built on a custom crypto payments protocol developed by Coinbase on its Base blockchain. This infrastructure is designed to meet the specific needs of online retailers, offering features like chargebacks, refunds, and detailed transaction records—functions often missing in traditional crypto setups.

Stripe, already one of Shopify’s key payment partners, is embedding USDC capabilities directly into the Shopify backend. This means merchants won’t need to go through a separate setup process or integrate external services to start accepting USDC. The system will be opt-out by default, allowing USDC payments unless the merchant actively chooses to disable the feature.

Notably, participating merchants will also be eligible for up to 0.5% cash back on USDC transactions. Later this year, customers using USDC will also receive incentives in the form of cashback, a move designed to encourage usage and adoption of the payment method.

Strategic Crypto Alignment

Shopify CEO Tobias Lütke, who also sits on Coinbase’s board, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to crypto innovation during remarks at a recent Coinbase event. His support of the new integration signals that Shopify views crypto not just as a payment novelty but as a meaningful evolution in online commerce.

Jesse Pollak, who leads Coinbase’s blockchain and wallet efforts, emphasized the broader significance of this rollout. “I think other payment processors will look at what Shopify is building and be like, ‘Holy crap,’” he said, highlighting the scale and ambition behind the partnership.

By building on Coinbase’s Base blockchain, Shopify taps into a low-cost, high-speed infrastructure while staying within the bounds of regulatory frameworks. This ensures that businesses can offer crypto payments without sacrificing compliance or operational stability.

Industry Trends: Stablecoins Going Mainstream

Shopify’s decision to embrace USDC comes at a time when other global financial giants are beginning to explore similar options. Companies like Visa, PayPal, JPMorgan, and Deutsche Bank have all begun integrating stablecoins into their payment flows, citing efficiency, traceability, and the potential to lower transaction costs.

Even major tech platforms such as Apple, Meta, Google, and Airbnb have shown interest in stablecoin payments, exploring potential use cases for remittances, subscription payments, and in-app transactions.

The move by Shopify could catalyze broader adoption across the e-commerce industry. As one of the most widely used retail platforms globally, Shopify powers more than four million websites and processes billions in online sales each year. By embedding USDC payments directly into its platform, Shopify is making crypto transactions accessible to millions of merchants across 34 countries.

What This Means for Merchants and Shoppers

For Shopify merchants, the integration provides a new way to accept payments from customers globally—especially those who may not have access to traditional banking. It also opens the door for lower transaction fees compared to credit cards and faster settlement times, which can significantly improve cash flow for small businesses.

From a shopper’s perspective, paying in USDC means greater security and potentially fewer fees when shopping across borders. Since USDC maintains parity with the U.S. dollar, there’s no currency conversion required, and payments settle almost instantly.

As stablecoin adoption grows, the friction between traditional banking systems and modern e-commerce is likely to decrease. Shopify’s move may be the beginning of a broader trend where digital currencies quietly become a standard option at checkout.

What’s Next

Shopify plans to evaluate feedback from the initial pilot before expanding USDC payments to additional markets. With the infrastructure now in place and major fintech partners backing the rollout, the company appears poised to push stablecoin payments into the mainstream.

If the pilot proves successful, it may not be long before USDC—or other stablecoins—become as common as credit cards on Shopify storefronts. In a world increasingly connected by digital commerce, the ability to accept programmable, borderless money could be a game-changer for merchants of all sizes.