Ingenico, the global leader in payment acceptance solutions, has partnered with WalletConnect Pay to integrate native stablecoin payments into its retail terminals. The collaboration, announced on January 13, aims to transition digital assets from niche investment vehicles into practical tools for everyday commerce, and marks a massive step for both WalletConnect and the wider adoption of cryptocurrency.

The integration allows merchants using Ingenico’s global infrastructure, which spans 32 countries and tens of millions of devices, to accept stablecoins such as USDC, USDT, and EURC. 

Unlike traditional crypto-linked debit cards that convert assets into fiat via legacy card networks, WalletConnect Pay enables direct, on-chain transactions. The architecture consequently reduces reliance on intermediary banking layers and facilitates faster settlement times for merchants.

The service launches with support for the Ethereum mainnet alongside major Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible networks, including Polygon, Base, and Arbitrum. Customers can initiate payments by simply scanning a QR code at the terminal using any of the 700+ mobile wallets compatible with the WalletConnect protocol, such as MetaMask, Trust Wallet, or Safe.

“Stablecoins have become an important payment instrument for moving value quickly and efficiently,” said Jess Houlgrave, CEO of WalletConnect. “By working with Ingenico, we’re extending stablecoin payments into real-world retail environments in a way that is practical and familiar.”

For Ingenico, the move addresses a growing institutional and consumer appetite for so-called digital dollar liquidity. Floris de Kort, CEO of Ingenico, noted that the integration allows the company’s partners to offer stablecoin acceptance while maintaining compliance and operational simplicity within existing payment systems.

WalletConnect: A Year of Growth

The timing of the rollout, scheduled imminently for January 2026, follows a year of significant growth for WalletConnect, which reported over $400 billion in network volume for the preceding year. As institutional interest in tokenized cash remains high, this partnership represents a significant step in bridging the gap between decentralized finance and the global "high street" retail economy.

According to @sandiforward, Ecosystem Lead at WalletConnect, the delivery of the payment capabilities was the result of an intensive two-month development cycle, signaling a "slowly then suddenly" shift toward mainstream blockchain utility.

Sources

• WalletConnect: Ingenico Launches Digital Currency solution in partnership with WalletConnect Pay
• WalletConnect: WalletConnect Pay documentation
• WalletConnect: What $400 Billion in Total Network Volume Really Means for WalletConnect

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