Fintech Takes: Are Stablecoins a Threat…or Just Better Infrastructure?

Fintech Takes

Welcome back to Fintech Takes. I’m Alex Johnson, and today we’re lucky enough to dig into stablecoins (again!) with James Wester, co-head of payments research at Javelin Strategy & Research, who previously led strategic communications for blockchain, crypto, and digital currencies PayPal and served as a market research analyst at IDC.

Last time on the pod, we tackled domestic payment use cases (ACH, interchange, and why crypto UX still can’t touch the Starbucks app). This time, we zoom out.

First, we unpack whether stablecoins are net good or net bad for community banks. The real threat isn’t deposit flight; it’s being boxed out of innovation. For years, regulators told community banks to steer clear of crypto. Now Stripe’s leaning into stablecoins, startups are building directly on-chain, and regulators are finally creating a bank-like charter for issuers. So who’s actually being served by this “innovation”?

Then: what makes stablecoins different? One word: programmability. This is money you can code. Treasurers and developers love it. And if issuers get access to Fed master accounts or card networks? It could reshape BaaS (and who gets to build on it).

Finally, we tackle the hard stuff: regulation, insurance, and that annoying habit of moving the goalposts. What happens if a stablecoin fails? How do you design for risk (and communicate that risk honestly to consumers)? Why does this space keep getting held to a higher bar than banks with fractional reserves?

James puts it plainly: stablecoins aren’t the next hot, sexy fintech product. They’re utilities; more like electricity or cell service. Nobody gets excited about who powers their outlets or offers marginally better 5G. You just want it to work. And that’s where stablecoins are headed: quiet, foundational, infrastructure-grade. The real innovation won’t be stablecoins; it’ll be the stack built on top of it.

This episode is brought to you by:

Newline™ by Fifth Third is an innovative, API-first platform that enables fintechs to launch embedded payment, card and deposit solutions directly with Fifth Third Bank. Visit Newline53.com to see how Newline can elevate your business.

Sign up for Alex’s Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/

And for more exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube page.

Follow James:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameswester/

X: https://x.com/jameswester

Follow Alex:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson

X: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson