The combination of stablecoin payments and QR code systems is quietly changing the underlying logic of payment systems. A few years ago, people were still discussing whether "digital currencies could enter daily life." Now, in some countries, scanning a regular merchant's QR code may actually complete a payment settled with a cryptocurrency stablecoin in the background. From Southeast Asia to South America, the stablecoin QR code payment system is gradually taking shape.

Vietnam and the Philippines: Financial Inclusion

In Vietnam and the Philippines, the promotion of stablecoin QR code payments is closely related to the goal of financial inclusion. Both countries have limited banking system coverage, and a large number of low- to middle-income individuals rely on electronic wallets for daily payments. According to World Bank data, in 2023, over 30% of adults in Vietnam still do not have a bank account, while the figure is nearly 44% in the Philippines.

Bitget Wallet announced in June 2025 that it would integrate its cryptocurrency payment function with the "national unified QR code system," allowing users to make direct QR code payments using stablecoins like USDT or USDC through VietQR and QR PH, which support Vietnam and the Philippines.

This move is not a symbolic "cryptocurrency payment concept," but rather a real integration into the local payment network. Consumers complete payments by scanning codes, and the system automatically converts stablecoins into local fiat currency in the background, allowing merchants to avoid dealing with cryptocurrency assets and exchange rate risks. Bitget stated in its official blog that the goal of this design is "to make the experience of cryptocurrency payments indistinguishable from that of regular electronic wallets."

Vietnam's payment environment provides a natural soil for this attempt. VietQR is a standardized QR code system led by the country's interbank payment association, covering major banks and wallet services nationwide. When stablecoins like USDT enter the VietQR payment track, it essentially connects blockchain liquidity to the national financial network. After users scan the code, transactions are initiated through a cryptocurrency wallet and settled in stablecoins, while merchants still receive payments valued in Vietnamese dong. For regulators, this retains the dominance of local currency clearing while allowing international capital flows to penetrate the retail market more efficiently.

Brazil: Anti-Inflation and System Integration

Brazil's core motivation is to combat inflation and attract international cryptocurrency funds. Since 2024, Brazil's inflation has consistently exceeded target ranges, and the local currency, the real, has frequently been replaced in digital asset transactions. By allowing users to make direct QR code payments with stablecoins (such as USDT and USDC), the government has, to some extent, "incorporated" the spontaneously used cryptocurrency assets into the regulatory system, making them a controlled payment method.

Brazil's PIX system is originally known for instant transfers, partially replacing cash transactions in the country. In September 2025, Aeon Pay announced that its "Crypto Scan-to-Pay" service officially supports stablecoin payments via PIX QR codes, allowing users to complete QR code payments directly with USDT or USDC, which are converted in real-time to Brazilian reals in the background.

Since PIX covers almost all banks and merchant terminals, stablecoins can achieve "scannable and settleable" functionality at the broadest economic level. Aeon Pay emphasizes that its design complies with the central bank's anti-money laundering and fund monitoring requirements, ensuring that all exchange and clearing processes in the stablecoin payment path are auditable.

Thailand: Tourism Economy and Foreign Exchange Optimization

Meanwhile, Thailand, with its developed tourism economy, has also begun to explore similar mechanisms. According to policy analysis released by Silk Legal, Thailand is allowing tourists to convert cryptocurrency into Thai baht through the Tourist DigiPay program, completing payments at merchant QR code terminals.

The logic behind this is clear—Thailand's foreign exchange settlement system still has friction for small transactions, and tourists face high fees and opaque exchange rates when converting currency or using credit cards. Stablecoin QR code payments can bypass traditional exchange chains, completing instant conversions through smart contracts and directly injecting funds into local merchant accounts.

The key to this solution is not the opening of cryptocurrency trading but the integration of stablecoins with the national unified QR code system. Tourists can recharge certified wallets with stablecoins like USDT upon arrival in Thailand, and the system automatically converts them into equivalent Thai baht, settling through local banks and payment gateways. This mechanism meets regulatory compliance while reducing foreign currency exchange steps, allowing cryptocurrency assets to gain real usage space in tourism scenarios.

Singapore: Institutional Compliance and Innovation Coexistence

If the innovations in these countries are more prevalent in emerging markets, then in September 2025, Singapore brought stablecoin QR code payments into a highly mature financial system. According to reports from Finextra and Channel News Asia, OKX Pay partnered with StraitsX to launch a QR code payment function supporting USDC and USDT, allowing users to scan the national unified QR code SGQR within the GrabPay merchant network to use stablecoins for consumption.

In the background, the system converts USDC or USDT into the XSGD stablecoin, which is pegged to the Singapore dollar, and the final merchant receives payment in Singapore dollars.

The significance of this model lies in its realization of daily stablecoin payments in a strictly regulated market for the first time. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) had already introduced a "Stablecoin Regulatory Framework" in 2023, requiring issuers to ensure the safety of reserve assets, sufficient liquidity, and independent audits. This assurance provides both legal and technical stability for the practice of stablecoin QR code payments.

Although the paths of different countries vary, the underlying logic is remarkably similar: the unified QR code system provides the "entry," stablecoins provide the "funding source," and the intermediary clearing layer is responsible for converting cryptocurrencies into fiat currency and distributing them to merchants. Users only need to scan the code to pay, experiencing a process similar to Alipay or PayNow. Regulatory agencies can retain monitoring channels while absorbing capital flows and payment innovations from the cryptocurrency market.

Behind this trend is the institutional shift towards the global stablecoin ecosystem. Countries are no longer simply avoiding regulation but are seeking solutions for "stable access." From the current development trend, stablecoin QR code payments are gradually becoming the intersection of cryptocurrency assets and the real economy. They not only maintain the convenience of QR code payments but also allow the liquidity of stablecoins to transition from virtual markets to everyday consumption.

免责声明：本文章仅代表作者个人观点，不代表本平台的立场和观点。本文章仅供信息分享，不构成对任何人的任何投资建议。用户与作者之间的任何争议，与本平台无关。如网页中刊载的文章或图片涉及侵权，请提供相关的权利证明和身份证明发送邮件到support@aicoin.com，本平台相关工作人员将会进行核查。