Cryptocurrency payment adoption across licensed iGaming platforms has surged to 38% in early 2026, up from 24% in 2024, according to a new report from payments consultancy PayTech Insights. The growth is primarily driven by stablecoin integration, with Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC) accounting for 71% of all crypto deposits processed by licensed operators.
The report highlights cross-border transaction efficiency as the primary driver: stablecoins enable near-instant settlement without currency conversion fees, a significant advantage for operators serving markets with volatile local currencies.
Several tier-one payment processors, including Paysafe and Nuvei, have expanded their iGaming APIs to include native stablecoin rails, reducing the technical barrier for operators.
"Three years ago, crypto payments in licensed gambling were a fringe conversation," said Ravi Ghosh, PayTech Insights founder. "In 2026 it's a procurement line item in operator platform tenders."
Regulatory comfort with stablecoins has also improved, with several European jurisdictions clarifying their AML treatment of USDT and USDC deposits in 2025.
Source: PayTech Insights
Sofia Eriksson
Senior Reporter
Member of the iGaming Pulse editorial team. Covering industry news, analysis, and B2B developments across the global iGaming sector.
Comments (1)
We integrated USDT last quarter. Chargeback rates dropped significantly.
