Meta has issued a request for proposals to third-party firms to integrate stablecoin-based payments and launch a new digital wallet in early H2 2026, with Stripe—following its acquisition of Bridge—emerging as a leading candidate. Rather than issuing its own coin like Libra/Diem, Meta will partner with licensed stablecoin issuers under the U.S. GENIUS Act framework to mitigate regulatory risk and reputational exposure. By embedding dollar-pegged tokens into Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, Meta aims to bypass traditional banking fees and convert its 3+ billion users into a global social commerce and remittance network, creating new monetization pathways beyond advertising. This initiative pits Meta against X and Telegram’s super app ambitions by embedding seamless payments into its messaging and social platforms, potentially redefining peer-to-peer transfers and in-app merchant checkouts.