Stablecoins are popular because they solve a real problem, with Chris Mason | Fintech Garden Episode 141

Fintech Garden was built around the evolution of financial infrastructure, and few topics illustrate that shift more clearly than the rise of stablecoins in cross-border payments. In this episode of the Fintech Garden podcast, host Igor Tomych speaks with Chris Mason, founder and CEO of Orbital, about how stablecoins moved from fringe experimentation to real-world payment infrastructure used by global businesses.

Why stablecoins gained traction in cross-border payments

Igor and Chris unpack why stablecoins found adoption first in cross-border and high-friction markets rather than domestic payments. The conversation traces the long-standing limitations of correspondent banking, from delayed settlement and opaque fees to liquidity constraints that disproportionately affect businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions. Stablecoins emerge not as a speculative asset, but as a response to customers being locked out of efficient access to US dollars.

From experimentation to real infrastructure

Chris reflects on Orbital’s early adoption of stablecoins, at a time when regulation, liquidity, and market confidence were still immature. He explains how early demand came from businesses operating in regulated but underserved sectors, and why stablecoins became a practical tool for maintaining continuity in global trade. The episode highlights how today’s environment, shaped by clearer regulatory frameworks and deeper liquidity, differs sharply from the “wild west” conditions of seven years ago.

Regulation, transparency, and compliance realities

A major focus of the discussion is regulation, including the impact of frameworks like MiCA in Europe. Chris argues that blockchain-based payments can offer greater transactional transparency than traditional correspondent banking, where visibility is fragmented across multiple intermediaries. Rather than viewing regulation as an obstacle, the episode frames compliance as a necessary foundation for production-grade stablecoin infrastructure.

Liquidity, premiums, and emerging markets

The conversation also explores why stablecoin premiums persist in certain regions, how currency controls distort pricing, and what liquidity actually means in the context of on-chain payments. Chris distinguishes between theoretical efficiency and real-world execution, emphasizing that stablecoins do not remove all costs but significantly reduce uncertainty and settlement risk.

What the future of payments looks like

The episode concludes with a forward-looking view on digital money, stablecoins, and the slow replacement of legacy systems like Swift. Igor and Chris agree that while hype remains high, meaningful progress is happening at the infrastructure level. Stablecoins are no longer a narrative about disruption, but a practical layer in the gradual rebuild of global payments.