Stablecoin adoption set to surge on AI freelancer growth
Australian crypto exchange Swyftx has forecast a significant increase in stablecoin transaction volumes, driven by the rise of AI-powered small businesses and freelancers. In its Q2 industry report, the firm estimated that the global gig and freelancer payment market could reach $2.1 trillion by 2033, with AI-native workers accounting for $775 billion of that total. If around 33% of those payments settle in stablecoins, it would generate $262 billion in transactions.
Cost and accessibility driving the shift
Swyftx senior market analyst Pav Hundal told Cointelegraph that the AI economy and the 'vibe coding' trend are major tailwinds for stablecoin usage. He noted that technology alone isn't enough — economic viability and clear rules are needed, and stablecoins are now meeting those conditions. The report highlighted that micro-enterprises with fewer than five employees are among the fastest adopters of AI. Solo entrepreneurs frequently issue cross-border invoices and settle small amounts, but traditional banking and payment infrastructure often falls short due to high fees and slow settlement times.
Current global gig workers number between 6 million and 10 million, a figure expected to grow to 17 million within a decade. Swyftx explained that stablecoin transfers over Ethereum layer-2 networks can cut fees by 80-90%, saving the average freelancer about 86% in annual remittance costs.
Market momentum and AI agent payments
The stablecoin market is already expanding rapidly, with total market cap doubling in the past two years and June transaction volumes reaching an all-time high of $1.79 trillion. Swyftx believes that adding demand from AI agents — which cannot open bank accounts — will further accelerate the use of cryptocurrencies as a payment method. The forecast underscores that stablecoins are evolving beyond mere trading tools into a genuine payment infrastructure, with growth likely to continue as AI-driven freelancers and micro-businesses multiply.