Can stablecoins find an audience in the UK?

Stablecoins are increasingly moving into the regulatory mainstream. In the UK alone, the Bank of England is consulting on their role in payments, the FCA is proposing rules for issuance and safeguarding, and the government is laying the groundwork to bring fiat-backed stablecoins into formal regulation. Yet among the British public, they remain largely unfamiliar.

Awareness of stablecoins is low – but comprehension can improve quickly

Stablecoins have yet to enter the mainstream in the UK. Eight in ten (81%) Brits say they have never heard of them, according to results from a latest YouGov Survey. while a further 4% have heard the term but don’t understand what it means. That leaves just 13% with any degree of familiarity.

Yet when the concept is explained in a single line, the picture shifts. Around 61% say they understand the gist, including 34% who report understanding it very or fairly well. This suggests the gap is not complexity, it is a lack of exposure.

Banks lead as trusted sources of stablecoin education

If stablecoins are to gain traction, who communicates could be as important a factor as what is communicated. Brits show a clear preference for established financial and public institutions as sources of information.

Around 23% say they would trust their bank to explain stablecoins, followed closely by the UK government (22%) and financial regulators such as the FCA (21%). The Bank of England also features prominently at 17%.

By comparison, only 5% would turn to a cryptocurrency company, and just 4% to a technology company. Notably, 39% say they would not want to learn more about stablecoins at all—highlighting a sizeable segment that is disengaged from the category altogether.

Stablecoin use cases: What Brits say

Even with some openness to understanding the concept, adoption remains a distant prospect. Just 7% of Brits say they are very or fairly likely to consider using stablecoins, while 18% say they are not very likely but do not rule it out entirely.

Among those open to using them, interest clusters around specific financial activities. Around 22% would consider stablecoins for investing, making it the most cited use case. Saving money (16%), online shopping (15%), and international transfers (15%) follow closely behind.

Only 10% would consider using stablecoins to send money to friends or family, and just 8% for everyday purchases. Meanwhile, 34% say they would not consider using stablecoins at all, and a further 26% remain unsure.

This suggests that stablecoins are still viewed as a niche financial tool rather than a mainstream payment method.

What are the perceived benefits of stablecoins?

When Brits do engage with the concept, the perceived benefits of stablecoins centre on payments. The question about perceived benefits and concerns about stablecoins were fielded specifically to those who had heard about stablecoins before this survey.

Around 29% cite easier international transfers, followed by faster payments (26%) and lower transaction costs (20%). Competition with traditional banks (22%), greater financial innovation (17%) and greater personal financial control (16%) are other commonly cited benefits.

However, scepticism remains high. Over a third (35%) say they see no benefits at all, highlighting a value proposition that is still far from convincing for much of the public.

Security, fraud, and regulation dominate stablecoins concerns

Barriers to adoption are both clear and consistent. More than half of Brits cite cybersecurity risks (53%) and the risk of fraud or scams (52%) as key concerns.

Close behind are structural concerns around the category itself. Nearly half point to a lack of regulation (48%) and the risk of losing money (48%). Over a third (37%) are worried about potential use in illegal activity, while 30% say they simply do not understand how stablecoins work.

Concerns about the broader financial system are less pronounced, with 22% mentioning potential impacts on traditional banks. Only 13% say they have no concerns at all.

Methodology: YouGov Surveys: Serviced provides quick survey results from nationally representative or targeted audiences in multiple markets. This study was conducted online on March 19-20th, 2026 with a nationally representative sample of 2299 adults (aged 16+ years) in Great Britain, using a questionnaire designed by YouGov. Data figures have been weighted by age, gender, education, region and social grade to be representative of all adults in Great Britain (16 years or older) and reflect the latest ONS population estimates.