While traditional banks let corporate funds remain stagnant in slow regional accounts, a new protocol enables software systems to execute multi-currency trades instantly.
By Olivier Acuna|Edited by Jamie Crawley Jun 17, 2026, 10:29 a.m. 2 min readMake preferred on ShareShare this articleCopy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmailMake preferred on thinks AI software agents will run the entirety of global commerce within the next five years. (Olivier Acuna/CoinDesk)SummaryShow- Stables, a startup based in Singapore, is developing AI-driven payment middleware to facilitate stablecoin transactions within Asia’s fragmented cross-border trade landscape.
- According to CEO Bernardo Bilotta, the significant growth potential lies in machine-to-machine payments, as AI agents handle financial transactions for businesses instead of individual retail users.
- By integrating an Anthropic Model Context Protocol server into payment systems, Stables seeks to enable autonomous software to manage compliance, foreign exchange, and settlement for a B2B e-commerce market expected to exceed $28.9 trillion in Asia-Pacific this year.
In Asia, where 60% of stablecoin transactions occur, innovative backend middleware is allowing automated software to transfer funds without the need for human involvement.
This initiative by Stables aims to introduce a universal AI payment interface into the multi-trillion dollar trade environment in Asia, bypassing outdated cross-border infrastructure.
Stables focuses on a vast area that accounts for approximately 60% of global stablecoin transactions, yet this region remains highly fragmented and underserved.
In the previous year, stablecoins globally facilitated $35 trillion in transactions, a figure projected to soar beyond $700 trillion by 2035.
This remarkable increase underscores a fundamental transformation in international trade. Bilotta contends that the primary growth avenue in the region is shifting away from traditional human-to-human retail transactions, emphasizing the need for dedicated infrastructure for automated machines.
"I believe that in the next five years, all commerce will be conducted through AI agents," stated Bilotta in a video interview with CoinDesk. "We are moving towards a scenario where money will increasingly flow through software and AI systems rather than just between individuals and businesses."
Many analysts share Bilotta’s perspective on AI agents, including Charles Hoskinson, founder and CEO of Cardano’s Input Output, who has suggested that by 2035, AI agents will surpass humans in relevance.
Supporting data from the U.S. International Trade Administration indicates that business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce in the broader Asia-Pacific region is growing at an annual rate of 15%, with market values expected to exceed $28.9 trillion by the year's end.
However, despite this rapid expansion, the underlying systems remain inadequate. Bilotta pointed out that the issue stems from outdated infrastructure and compliance protocols.
Current global financial regulations, banking systems, and identity verification processes were designed exclusively for human transactions. Autonomous AI agents cannot complete standard compliance checks or execute payment loops without human intervention.
To address this structural challenge, the industry needs a compliant backend middleware that serves as a universal translator. Bilotta explained that by integrating an Anthropic-standard Model Context Protocol (MCP) server into payment systems, software agents can navigate compliance requirements, retrieve real-time foreign exchange rates, and process transactions across borders autonomously.
While major players like Stripe and Mastercard have invested heavily in acquiring fiat-to-crypto APIs to secure traditional corporate treasury operations, the automated machine-to-machine economy in emerging markets remains significantly underserved.
"The forthcoming phase of stablecoin adoption will not be led by crypto traders," Bilotta concludes. "Instead, it will be propelled by businesses, fintech companies, and ultimately AI systems moving actual capital in the real economy."
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CEX Volumes Drop to Lowest Since September 2024 as RWA Perps Hit Record High
CEX Volumes Drop to Lowest Since September 2024 as RWA Perps Hit Record High
In May, combined exchange volumes fell 3.45% to $4.41T; the lowest since September 2024. RWA perpetual futures volumes rose 10.4% against the trend, hitting a new all-time high.
By CoinDesk ResearchJun 15, 2026In May, combined exchange volumes fell 3.45% to $4.41T; the lowest since September 2024. RWA perpetual futures volumes rose 10.4% against the trend, hitting a new all-time high.
Why it matters:
In May, combined exchange volumes fell 3.45% to $4.41T; the lowest since September 2024. RWA perpetual futures volumes rose 10.4% against the trend, hitting a new all-time high.
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