Swyftx: Stablecoins Could Settle $262 Billion of Gig Payments by 2033

A Swyftx second-quarter industry report forecasts the global gig and freelance payments market will reach $2.1 trillion by 2033, with AI-native workers contributing $775 billion. According to ChainCatcher, Swyftx’s baseline model estimates that, assuming about 33% adoption, $262 billion of those payments could be settled using stablecoins. Swyftx Chief Market Analyst Pav Hundal said microbusinesses with fewer than five people are becoming the fastest adopters of AI, creating a cohort of cross-border, high-frequency invoicing independent entrepreneurs. He estimated there are currently about 6 million to 10 million such operators globally, and projected the figure could rise to 17 million within 10 years. The report said traditional cross-border payments often involve high fees and multi-day settlement times, while stablecoin transfers on Ethereum Layer 2 networks could reduce costs by 80% to 90%. Swyftx added that if its projections materialize, an institutional settlement layer providing over-the-counter liquidity, custody, and yield services for these payments could capture up to $1.3 billion in incremental revenue by 2033. The report also noted that stablecoin market capitalization has doubled over the past two years, and that June trading volume reached a record $1.79 trillion.