Bitcoin competes with Visa in payment volumes

Bitcoin continues to strengthen its position in the global payments system, and in terms of transaction volume, it is already comparable to the largest payment networks. According to a report by analytics company Glassnode, $6.9 trillion worth of transactions passed through the Bitcoin network in Q4 2025. This figure is already close to the scale of Visa and Mastercard, which processed $4.25 trillion and $2.63 trillion, respectively, during the same period.

On-Chain Activity and Its Significance

Despite the fact that some flows are diverted to ETFs and brokers, Bitcoin's on-chain activity remains high. Analysts note that Bitcoin and stablecoins continue to dominate settlements within the blockchain ecosystem due to their constant availability and independence from traditional banking infrastructure.

Excluding internal transfers between addresses of the same owner, Bitcoin's economic turnover is approximately $870 billion quarterly, equivalent to approximately $7.8 billion per day. These figures are still significantly lower than the daily volumes of Visa and Mastercard, which consistently exceed $25 billion. However, experts emphasize that Bitcoin is already developing a native international settlement model, in demand by both institutional and retail market participants.

Bitcoin Adoption Around the World

According to BTCmap, approximately 20,000 merchants worldwide accept the cryptocurrency. Meanwhile, the Visa network connects with 175 million locations, highlighting the significant gap between cryptocurrency and traditional payment systems. Nevertheless, the growing number of merchants accepting Bitcoin indicates its growing popularity and adoption.

The Role of Stablecoins in Cross-Border Transfers

Stablecoins are also strengthening their position in cross-border transfers. Glassnode experts estimate the average daily on-chain turnover of this asset class at $225 billion. However, it's worth noting that approximately 70% of transactions are associated with trading bots, while real users account for no more than 20%. Experts emphasize the importance of regulators distinguishing between algorithmic and organic activity to accurately assess the true scale of digital currency adoption and their impact on the financial system.

In Conclusion

Thus, Bitcoin continues to gain popularity and is becoming a serious competitor to traditional payment systems such as Visa and Mastercard. Despite existing differences in transaction volumes, its role in international settlements and the financial ecosystem is steadily growing. With the growing number of merchants and increased on-chain activity, Bitcoin and stablecoins can be expected to become increasingly prominent in the future financial landscape.