Meta is preparing to integrate stablecoin payments across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp through an external partner, marking a cautious return to crypto after the collapse of its Libra project.
Stripe has emerged as the favoured partner following its $1.1 billion acquisition of Bridge and the appointment of its chief executive to Meta’s board, positioning the payments group to provide regulated infrastructure for Meta’s 3 billion users.
“They want to do it, but barely,”
A source close to the matter told CoinDesk.
Unlike the aborted Libra initiative, Meta will not issue its own cryptocurrency, opting instead to plug into third-party stablecoin rails as the 2025 GENIUS Act establishes a clear federal framework for issuers in the United States.
Stripe strengthened its regulatory standing after Bridge obtained conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in February 2026, while Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said:
“Nothing has changed; there is still no Meta stablecoin. This is about enabling individuals and businesses to make payments on our platforms using the method of their choice.”
Meta’s earlier Libra project, unveiled in 2019 with backing from payments giants including Visa, Mastercard and PayPal, unravelled under intense scrutiny from US regulators before being rebranded as Diem and formally wound down in 2022.
The renewed push comes as the stablecoin market has expanded from roughly $1 billion in 2019 to more than $300 billion today, transforming from a niche crypto experiment into a mainstream payments layer that technology platforms and financial groups can no longer ignore.