The Crypto Industry's Shift Away from Speculation and Towards Practical Applications
In the midst of a so-called bear market, the next major leap in digital assets is likely to be fueled by real-world applications rather than the latest meme coin or fleeting trading frenzy. The crypto industry is undergoing a significant shift towards more practical and durable infrastructure, with everyday global payments, banking services built on stablecoins, and seamless integration of tokenization into traditional financial systems becoming increasingly prominent.
The recent TRM Labs adoption report highlights the growing importance of stablecoins, which accounted for approximately 30% of all on-chain activity in 2025. The total transaction volume rose to over $4 trillion between January and July 2025, a 83% year-over-year increase. This is not the profile of a market anticipating the next viral trend but rather that of a parallel payments and settlement layer taking shape.
The emergence of decentralized on-chain banking platforms, or deobanks, is another indicator of this shift towards practical applications. These platforms are building upward from blockchain infrastructure itself, giving users real control over their assets and operating on stablecoin-native infrastructure. They offer meaningful benefits to millions who lack reliable access to savings, credit, or affordable international payments.
Stablecoins are becoming increasingly legitimized, with the U.S. enacting its first comprehensive legislation for fiat-backed tokens known as the GENIUS Act, and the E.U.'s MiCA regulations coming into effect. These developments make it possible for banks, payment processors, and fintech companies to integrate with crypto infrastructure without the regulatory paralysis of prior years.
As trillions of dollars flow through stablecoins each year, they are becoming an alternative settlement layer for the dollar itself. Given that 90% of them are pegged to the U.S. dollar, these assets are now functioning as a new foundation for global finance. It's becoming increasingly difficult to believe that the next bull run will be driven by the old question "Which coin will be 100x?" Instead, it is likely to be driven by networks processing the next trillion dollars in real-world payments.
Two trends are powering this transition: the tokenization of real-world assets and the emergence of decentralized banks. The tokenization of real-world assets is expected to reach $50 billion by the end of 2025, while BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has outlined a plan to unlock up to $4 trillion in digital wallet-held assets around the world through the digitization of traditional financial products.
In such an ecosystem, liquidity can no longer depend on speculative waves. It will come from continuous flows: remittances, payroll, supplier payments, trade finance, and tokenized fixed-income products. At that point, market cycles will sit on top of a growing base of structural demand, not narrative-driven inflows. Ultimately, it is this structural foundation that will determine how far any future bull market can run.
In the midst of a so-called bear market, the next major leap in digital assets is likely to be fueled by real-world applications rather than the latest meme coin or fleeting trading frenzy. The crypto industry is undergoing a significant shift towards more practical and durable infrastructure, with everyday global payments, banking services built on stablecoins, and seamless integration of tokenization into traditional financial systems becoming increasingly prominent.
The recent TRM Labs adoption report highlights the growing importance of stablecoins, which accounted for approximately 30% of all on-chain activity in 2025. The total transaction volume rose to over $4 trillion between January and July 2025, a 83% year-over-year increase. This is not the profile of a market anticipating the next viral trend but rather that of a parallel payments and settlement layer taking shape.
The emergence of decentralized on-chain banking platforms, or deobanks, is another indicator of this shift towards practical applications. These platforms are building upward from blockchain infrastructure itself, giving users real control over their assets and operating on stablecoin-native infrastructure. They offer meaningful benefits to millions who lack reliable access to savings, credit, or affordable international payments.
Stablecoins are becoming increasingly legitimized, with the U.S. enacting its first comprehensive legislation for fiat-backed tokens known as the GENIUS Act, and the E.U.'s MiCA regulations coming into effect. These developments make it possible for banks, payment processors, and fintech companies to integrate with crypto infrastructure without the regulatory paralysis of prior years.
As trillions of dollars flow through stablecoins each year, they are becoming an alternative settlement layer for the dollar itself. Given that 90% of them are pegged to the U.S. dollar, these assets are now functioning as a new foundation for global finance. It's becoming increasingly difficult to believe that the next bull run will be driven by the old question "Which coin will be 100x?" Instead, it is likely to be driven by networks processing the next trillion dollars in real-world payments.
Two trends are powering this transition: the tokenization of real-world assets and the emergence of decentralized banks. The tokenization of real-world assets is expected to reach $50 billion by the end of 2025, while BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has outlined a plan to unlock up to $4 trillion in digital wallet-held assets around the world through the digitization of traditional financial products.
In such an ecosystem, liquidity can no longer depend on speculative waves. It will come from continuous flows: remittances, payroll, supplier payments, trade finance, and tokenized fixed-income products. At that point, market cycles will sit on top of a growing base of structural demand, not narrative-driven inflows. Ultimately, it is this structural foundation that will determine how far any future bull market can run.
. We're seeing more and more practical applications come to life, like stablecoins becoming legitimized with the new GENIUS Act in the US 
. It's no longer just about some new meme coin or trading frenzy - it's about building real-world infrastructure that can actually make a difference. Decentralized on-chain banking platforms are a game-changer for people who don't have access to traditional banking services 
. And let's be real, the idea of $4 trillion in digital wallet-held assets is no joke 
. It's all about creating a solid foundation for global finance that can withstand market fluctuations. I'm excited to see where this takes us!
the crypto space is getting way more legit lol its like they're tryna make it into the real world now 
stablecoins are becoming super important and the US just passed this genius act thingy which helps with integration with banks and stuff. decentralized on-chain banking platforms are popping up too so people can actually control their own assets 
its not all about meme coins anymore, its more about real-world applications like everyday payments and financial services. I'm hyped for the next trillion dollars in real-world payments 
like they already are! But seriously, it's about time crypto moves away from just speculation and meme coins. The idea of everyday global payments and banking services built on stablecoins is so promising 
. I'm excited to see how this all plays out and how stablecoins become an alternative settlement layer for the dollar 
. Like, who needs another layer of complexity in the crypto space? The fact that they're being legitimized by governments just means they'll be more heavily regulated and controlled 
. Where's the fun in stablecoins and decentralized banks? I'll stick with my meme coins, thanks 
. At least those offer some excitement and unpredictability 
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. Stablecoins are where it's at now – the fact that 30% of on-chain activity is stablecoin-based is pretty telling 
. And can you believe the TRM Labs adoption report? $4 trillion in transaction volume? That's some serious traction 
. I mean, who needs regulatory frameworks when you've got the GENIUS Act, right? 
And decentralized on-chain banking platforms? That sounds like a solid plan for making banking more accessible to the masses 
. Fingers crossed that this means better things for investors and users alike 
.
stablecoins are killing it, i mean, 30% of on-chain activity is pretty wild 
. That means legit crypto infrastructure is finally starting to take off. No more regulatory hiccups or BS 
. It's all about stability and practicality now. And you know what that means? The next bull run won't be about some new "disruptor" coin - it'll be about real-world payments processing that trillions of dollars through stablecoins 
. Like, who needs meme coins when you can have stablecoins and decentralized banking platforms? It's about time we move away from speculation and towards real-world use cases. I mean, I've been using my school's digital wallet to pay for books and stuff, so this is kinda what I'm talking about 
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. But for now, I think we've got a solid foundation in place for some real-world applications to take center stage. And that, my friends, is something to get excited about 
!
. Can't wait to see trillions of dollars flowing through stablecoins each year 
But seriously, seeing stablecoins and decentralized on-chain banking platforms become more mainstream is a huge step forward for legitimized cryptocurrency use cases. It's about time we move away from just speculation and towards something that actually improves people's lives 
. But, I do hope that this shift doesn't just lead to more consolidation in the market, I want to see some new players come into the game 
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, especially with the US enacting that GENIUS Act and the EU coming into effect with MiCA regulations 
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. But now it's clear that this is about building a new payment system and making finance more accessible to people who need it 
. And let's be real, trillions of dollars in stablecoins is a big deal 
. I'm skeptical about these meme coins that pop up every now and then though - when was the last time a coin actually became something more than just a flash in the pan?