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Meta is preparing a new stablecoin payment integration for its platforms in the second half of 2026, according to people familiar with the plan. The company is not launching its own stablecoin. Instead, it is exploring a model that uses a third-party provider to support stablecoin-based payments and a new wallet feature.
The reported plan would allow Meta to expand payment options across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The company has also sent a request for product to outside firms as it evaluates potential partners. People familiar with the matter said Meta wants to move early in the second half of the year if integration work progresses on schedule.
Meta’s current approach focuses on infrastructure support rather than token issuance. Sources said the company wants a vendor to help administer stablecoin-backed payments and assist with wallet implementation. This structure would let Meta add payment functionality while keeping core stablecoin operations with an external provider.
One source identified Stripe as a likely candidate for a pilot program. Stripe has an existing relationship with Meta, and that connection may support faster coordination if Meta selects it. Stripe also expanded its stablecoin capabilities after acquiring Bridge last year, which adds relevance to its name in the vendor process.
The company has not publicly confirmed a final partner or launch date. Meta, Stripe, and Bridge did not provide a comment before publication. As a result, the timeline and technical scope may still change before any rollout begins.
Meta’s reported strategy differs from its earlier digital currency effort. In 2019, the company backed Libra, a stablecoin project that later became Diem. Lawmakers and regulators raised concerns about financial stability, compliance, and market power. Those concerns slowed the project and forced several changes to its design.
The project later narrowed its scope, but it still failed to launch. Meta shut down the effort in early 2022 and sold the project’s assets. The outcome remains an important part of the company’s payment history, and it appears to shape the structure of the new plan.
People familiar with the current discussions said Meta now prefers an arm’s-length model. This approach reduces direct exposure to the legal and political issues that affected Libra and Diem. It also allows Meta to test stablecoin payment use cases without issuing a proprietary token.
The US regulatory environment has changed since Meta’s previous attempt. New stablecoin policy efforts have created a clearer path for firms that want to build payment tools tied to dollar-pegged tokens. Regulators still need to finalize key rules, but companies now have more direction than they did in 2019.
Furthermore, the change in regulation has pushed more large companies to test stablecoin payments, especially for cheaper transfers and cross-border use. Meta’s reach matters here because its apps connect billions of users, so even a small rollout could bring stablecoin payments to a much wider audience.
If Meta proceeds, the company could expand payment options for creators, merchants, and users across its platforms. The reported plan suggests a practical goal of improving payment efficiency while relying on a specialist partner for stablecoin operations. The strategy gives Meta a way to re-enter digital payments with tighter risk controls and a clearer regulatory backdrop.
Also Read: US CLARITY Act Could Pass by April as Stablecoin Talks Shift
