Meta Targets H2 2026 Stablecoin Integration via Third-Party Partners as Stripe Emerges in Early Talks

Company Seeks ‘Arm’s Length’ Approach After Libra Era Collapse

TL;DR

• Meta is planning a stablecoin integration in the second half of 2026 using third-party providers rather than issuing its own token.
• Stripe is viewed as a leading candidate after its $1.1 billion Bridge acquisition and regulatory progress.
• The move follows the 2019–2022 Libra/Diem shutdown and comes amid clearer U.S. stablecoin frameworks.

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Meta Platforms is preparing a return to stablecoin-based payments, targeting rollout in the second half of 2026, according to multiple reports dated February 24, 2026. The initiative marks the company’s most concrete re-entry into crypto payments since the collapse of its Libra and later Diem projects. Rather than issuing a proprietary token, Meta is pursuing integration with third-party stablecoin providers and has issued a request for proposals to potential infrastructure partners as product planning advances.

Sources familiar with the effort described the strategy as operating “at arm’s length,” underscoring a deliberate shift from the company’s earlier approach of directly sponsoring a global digital currency. Libra, introduced in 2019, faced intense regulatory scrutiny before being rebranded as Diem and ultimately shut down in early 2022, with its assets sold. The new initiative avoids in-house issuance and instead positions Meta as a platform integrator within existing regulated stablecoin frameworks.

Stripe has emerged as a leading candidate to support the payments infrastructure. The payments firm acquired stablecoin infrastructure company Bridge in October 2024 for $1.1 billion. Bridge subsequently received conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish a national trust bank capable of offering digital asset custody, stablecoin issuance, and reserve management under U.S. oversight. Stripe CEO Patrick Collison joined Meta’s board in April 2025. Neither Meta nor Stripe publicly confirmed involvement at the time of reporting.

Plans under consideration include integrating stablecoin payments across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, alongside the launch of a new Meta wallet designed to store and transact dollar-pegged tokens. The selected partner would administer stablecoin-backed payments infrastructure rather than Meta holding reserves or issuing tokens directly. Meta’s global network exceeds 3 billion users, providing the distribution base for potential digital payment functionality once implemented.

The renewed push comes as U.S. regulatory clarity around stablecoins has improved compared with the Libra period. Legislation including the GENIUS Act has begun defining issuance and reserve standards, while oversight discussions continue across federal agencies. Industry data cited in broader coverage places the stablecoin market in the hundreds of billions of dollars, with transaction volumes reaching multi-trillion dollars annually, framing the competitive landscape in which technology companies are reconsidering digital asset payments.

Reporting also notes that other major technology firms, including Google, Apple, X, Airbnb and Telegram, have explored stablecoin or crypto payment integrations. Meta’s approach follows a period in which banks and crypto firms have increasingly discussed cooperative frameworks for digital dollar infrastructure. The company has not publicly disclosed a specific launch date beyond the second half of 2026 timeline.

This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.