Klarna Introduces Stablecoin to Reduce $120 Billion in International Payment Charges

Bitget App

Trade smarter

Bitget

News

Markets

Klarna Introduces Stablecoin to Reduce $120 Billion in International Payment Charges

Bitget-RWA2025/11/25 17:10

By:Bitget-RWA

- Klarna launches KlarnaUSD, a USD-backed stablecoin on Stripe/Paradigm's Tempo blockchain to challenge traditional cross-border payment networks. - Aims to cut $120B in annual fees by offering faster, cheaper transactions via Tempo's payment-optimized infrastructure. - CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski's crypto pivot aligns with $27T stablecoin market growth and regulatory frameworks like the U.S. GENIUS Act. - Partnership with Stripe's $1.1B-acquired Bridge platform and $5B-valuation Tempo underscores fintech'

Swedish fintech powerhouse

Klarna

has made its debut in the stablecoin sector by unveiling KlarnaUSD, a digital token pegged to the U.S. dollar that aims to simplify international payments and disrupt established financial systems. Built on the Tempo blockchain—a collaboration between Stripe and Paradigm—this move signals a major shift for the buy-now-pay-later pioneer, which has previously approached cryptocurrency with caution

as reported

Klarna Introduces Stablecoin to Reduce $120 Billion in International Payment Charges image 0

KlarnaUSD is set to tap into the booming stablecoin industry, where yearly transaction volumes have now surpassed $27 trillion,

according to McKinsey

. The token will first be available on Tempo’s testnet, with a full mainnet rollout targeted for 2026. By utilizing Tempo’s payment-focused blockchain, Klarna is looking to cut into the $120 billion in annual fees generated by conventional cross-border payments,

providing quicker and more affordable solutions

for both shoppers and businesses.

This initiative marks a significant turnaround for Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski, who was once skeptical of crypto but now champions its advantages. “Crypto has reached a point where it is efficient, cost-effective, secure, and scalable,” he said, highlighting that Klarna’s 114 million users and $118 billion in yearly gross merchandise value (GMV) put the company in a strong position to “take on traditional networks”

according to market analysis

. The creation of the stablecoin coincides with favorable regulatory developments, such as the U.S. GENIUS Act and the EU’s MiCA regulations, which are offering more defined rules for stablecoin issuers

as research indicates

Klarna’s collaboration with Stripe builds on a longstanding partnership across 26 countries. The stablecoin utilizes Open Issuance by Bridge, a Stripe subsidiary acquired for $1.1 billion earlier this year. Since its launch in September, Tempo has secured $500 million in funding and is valued at $5 billion,

with backing from companies such as Visa and OpenAI

. This partnership highlights Klarna’s commitment to embedding blockchain into its main payment systems and expanding its presence in the crypto space,

with more alliances anticipated soon

On the financial front, Klarna enters the stablecoin competition with robust liquidity. Despite generating $3.2 billion in revenue over the past year and trading near its 52-week low, the company’s current ratio of 29.46 allows room for innovation. Its latest third-quarter report revealed

a 23% increase in GMV year-over-year

, strengthening its rationale for branching into digital currencies. Experts suggest that stablecoins could surpass traditional payment systems by the decade’s end,

a shift Klarna is eager to drive

This launch is also in step with wider industry trends. PayPal and Stripe have already rolled out their own stablecoins, and clearer regulations in the U.S. and Europe have attracted more institutional players. JPMorgan recently noted that Circle’s

USDC

has overtaken Tether’s

USDT

in on-chain transactions, reflecting a maturing sector

according to industry analysis

. Klarna’s move further signals the trend of fintechs and banks turning to blockchain for greater efficiency and scalability.

Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.

PoolX: Earn new token airdrops

Lock your assets and earn 10%+ APR

Lock now!

- Texas becomes first U.S. state to buy $10M Bitcoin via BlackRock’s IBIT ETF, averaging $87,000 per coin. - Strategic Bitcoin Reserve aims to diversify state assets, aligning with corporate trends like MicroStrategy’s $835M BTC purchases. - Critics highlight crypto volatility risks, while proponents argue Bitcoin offers inflation hedging amid evolving regulatory frameworks. - Move could inspire other states to adopt digital assets as governments address crypto mining security and institutional adoption ch

Bitget-RWA•2025/11/25 19:04

Bitcoin Update: Texas Secures $10 Million in Bitcoin as Part of Strategic Digital Gold Reserve

Pudgy Penguins' Defense of the $0.00122 Support Level May Trigger a Bullish Breakout

- Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) trades near $0.005–$0.01 support zone amid oversold RSI (30) and declining bearish AO, signaling potential reversal. - Analysts label current price a "steal buy" due to weakening sell momentum and bullish divergence, with $0.015–$0.023 long-term targets. - Edgen+ partnership expansion drove 10% price surge and 50% volume spike to $188M, enhancing token utility via lifestyle platform integration. - Growing social media adoption and cultural visibility boost meme coin interest, thoug

Bitget-RWA•2025/11/25 19:04

Fed Faces Crucial Challenge: Navigating Rate Reductions, Inflation Concerns, and Political Influence

- The Fed faces a December rate cut dilemma as officials like Collins and Williams show policy divergence amid mixed economic data. - Markets priced in a 69.4% chance of easing, boosting CAVA +12.23% and reigniting Bitcoin speculation despite crypto caution. - FOMC projections cut year-end rate forecasts to 3.625% from 3.875%, signaling potential 50-basis-point easing while guarding against inflation risks. - March payrolls revision (-911K) and OPEC+ oil policies highlight fragility in labor markets and ex

Bitget-RWA•2025/11/25 19:04

MoonPay's Trust Charter Opens a Regulatory-Compliant Gateway for Banks to Enter the Crypto Market

- MoonPay secures New York Trust Charter , joining Coinbase/PayPal in holding both Bitlicense and Trust Charter under strict NYDFS oversight. - The charter enables institutional-grade crypto custody/OTC trading, positioning MoonPay as a compliant bridge between traditional and digital finance. - CEO emphasizes "highest compliance standards" to deepen traditional finance partnerships, following recent acquisitions and global expansion efforts. - Only a handful of firms navigate New York's rigorous AML/cyber

Bitget-RWA•2025/11/25 19:04