Retailers aim to reduce credit card fees and payment delays using digital currencies
Digital currencies, once considered a niche technology, are now becoming a serious business tool for some of the world’s largest retailers. Companies like Amazon and Walmart are exploring ways to create their digital coins, known as stablecoins, which are pegged to a stable asset like the U.S. dollar. These efforts are not about jumping on a trend. They are about improving payments, reducing costs, and staying competitive in a fast-changing economy.
Let’s explore the main reasons behind this shift and why it matters for the future of shopping and finance.
Reducing High Credit Card Fees
Retailers pay billions of dollars each year in credit card processing fees. Every time a customer pays with a credit or debit card, a percentage of the transaction goes to banks and card companies like Visa and Mastercard.
In 2024 alone, U.S. merchants paid over $180 billion in such fees. This is a massive cost burden, especially for businesses with slim profit margins. Retail giants are now considering digital currencies as a way to bypass these systems.
By using a digital currency that customers can spend directly at their stores, these retailers can avoid third-party payment processors. That means faster transactions, fewer fees, and more control over how money moves. For companies processing millions of payments a day, this could result in enormous savings.
Faster Settlements and Real-Time Payments
Besides the fees, traditional payments are also slow. Credit card transactions can take days to settle. This delay can be frustrating for both the retailer and the customer.
Digital currencies, especially stablecoins, offer instant settlement. That means the payment clears in real-time. The money arrives in the retailer’s account immediately, which helps with cash flow and financial planning. For large companies that handle billions in transactions each month, having immediate access to funds is a major advantage.
Making Global Trade Easier
Retailers with international operations often face challenges when paying suppliers in different countries. Converting currencies, dealing with foreign exchange rates, and going through international banks adds time, complexity, and cost.
Stablecoins, since they are digital and borderless, can simplify this entire process. A company can pay a supplier in another country quickly and without needing to convert between multiple currencies.
For companies like Amazon and Walmart, which deal with global suppliers daily, digital currencies could create a more efficient and less expensive way to manage international payments.
Strengthening Customer Loyalty Programs
Digital currencies are not just about making payments easier—they also open new ways to engage with customers. A retailer’s currency can be used to reward shoppers for their purchases in more creative ways than traditional loyalty points.
For example, instead of giving a few dollars back in store credit, a retailer can reward customers with tokens that they can spend, trade, or save. These tokens can even be programmed with special rules. They might expire after a certain date, be valid only in specific regions, or unlock extra discounts when used.
This adds more flexibility to how loyalty programs work and gives customers more reasons to stay within the brand’s ecosystem. It also gives retailers more data and control over spending behavior.
Preparing for New Regulations
Governments around the world are starting to take digital currencies more seriously. In the United States, new laws are being discussed to create clear rules for stablecoins. One such proposal is called the GENIUS Act, which would make it easier for companies to issue and use these tokens legally.
Retailers see this as a signal that now is the right time to act. Instead of waiting for laws to catch up, companies like Amazon and Walmart are preparing early. They want to be ready when digital currencies become widely accepted.
This approach gives them an edge over competitors who may be slower to adapt.
Competing with Banks and Credit Card Companies
Big retailers are also starting to act like financial companies. By issuing their digital currencies, they no longer have to rely as heavily on traditional banks or card networks.
They can create their financial systems inside their businesses. That includes payments, rewards, savings, and more. This gives them more independence and the ability to offer services that are tailored to their customers.
This also puts pressure on financial institutions to innovate. When major companies start building their alternatives, the old players in banking must find ways to keep up.
Responding to Global Digital Currency Trends
Governments and private companies around the world are rolling out their digital currencies. In countries like India, China, and Nigeria, central banks are testing or launching digital versions of their national currencies.
In the private sector, companies like Mastercard and PayPal are also creating or supporting stablecoins that can be used in everyday transactions. These projects are showing that digital money is not just for speculation—it can be used to buy groceries, pay for subscriptions, or transfer money across borders.
Retailers are paying close attention to this shift. They see that digital currencies are becoming a normal part of commerce, and they want to be at the forefront of the change.
Real-World Developments in 2025
Several key developments have occurred recently:
Amazon and Walmart are reportedly exploring their dollar-backed stablecoins. These tokens would be used within their stores or apps and could connect directly with customer wallets.
Mastercard has partnered with payment processor Fiserv to roll out a stablecoin called FIUSD, which is now available for use across a global network of merchants.
The US Congress is moving forward with legislation that could provide clear legal support for stablecoins, helping to remove many of the current uncertainties.
All these changes suggest that digital currency adoption is no longer theoretical—it is already happening.
Looking Ahead
Over the next year or two, it is expected that retailers will begin pilot programs for their digital tokens. These may start small, perhaps with selected loyalty programs or supplier payments, but the goal is likely full integration across retail systems.
Retailers might eventually allow customers to top up digital wallets using cash, bank accounts, or even gift cards, then spend those tokens anywhere in the brand’s ecosystem.
This could reshape how everyday purchases work and how customers interact with their favorite stores.
Final Thoughts
The move by retail giants into digital currencies is about much more than just modernizing payments. It’s a strategic shift aimed at cutting costs, improving customer loyalty, and gaining more control over financial systems.
With the right mix of technology, regulation, and customer adoption, digital currencies could become a normal part of shopping, just like credit cards or online wallets today. And for companies like Amazon and Walmart, launching their coins could be the next big step in their journey to becoming not just retailers, but financial powerhouses.
