Crypto infrastructure is rapidly becoming the backbone of modern financial systems, quietly transforming how people trade, transact, and interact with money across global platforms. While the public fixates on price fluctuations and regulatory debates, the underlying shift sees crypto infrastructure powering everything from stock trading to social media monetization and cross-border payments, often without users realizing it [1].
The evolution is evident in the strategies of major crypto players like MEXC and Coinbase. MEXC, which has 30 million users, recently launched stock futures for major brands such as Apple, Tesla, and McDonald’s, using USDT as a settlement mechanism. This move signals a broader trend where crypto exchanges are becoming universal trading platforms, eliminating the need for traditional brokerage accounts for certain user groups, especially in regions with limited access to traditional financial services [1].
Coinbase, on the other hand, is embedding crypto infrastructure into mainstream applications through its embedded wallet technology. These wallets allow developers to integrate financial services with minimal code, solving what product managers call the “developer’s dilemma”—balancing user experience with custody responsibilities. With features like onramps, swaps, and 4.1% USDC rewards, Coinbase’s approach is creating a seamless, one-stop financial experience that abstracts away the complexities of blockchain [1].
The convergence of crypto and traditional finance is also reshaping social platforms. On Coinbase’s Base App, creators can monetize content using embedded financial rails without the interface emphasizing crypto elements. This represents a fundamental shift in how social platforms generate value, allowing creators to capture revenue directly from their audiences through programmable money [1].
Zora is another example of this transformation. The platform focuses on content monetization by abstracting away the technicalities of blockchain, allowing users to engage with digital collectibles and creator economies without needing to understand the underlying infrastructure. This social commerce model is enabling new economic ecosystems where content and commerce merge into a single, seamless experience [1].
Beyond social platforms, traditional payment companies are also adopting crypto infrastructure to enhance their services. Remitly, a global remittance provider, is launching a stablecoin wallet in September, enabling users to send and receive USDC across 170 countries. The service reduces fees and settlement times significantly compared to traditional remittance methods, bypassing the need for traditional banking infrastructure. Remitly’s wallet uses the same Bridge infrastructure that powers Stripe’s crypto payments, indicating the maturity and reliability of the technology [1].
The Bank for International Settlements reported that cryptocurrencies facilitated roughly $600 billion in cross-border payments in Q2 2024, with USDC and USDT leading adoption. This shift is being accelerated by recent trade policies that have increased currency volatility, making stablecoins more attractive for international transactions. Remitly is also tokenizing portions of its dollar reserves using stablecoins, improving operational efficiency and enabling faster global fund transfers [1].
As the infrastructure matures, the vision for a seamless financial future is becoming clearer. Companies like MEXC, Coinbase, and Remitly are building systems where financial interactions are as natural and accessible as everyday app usage. The underlying technology remains invisible to most users, yet it powers everything from 24/7 trading to instant global payments and creator monetization [1].
Regulatory frameworks are also beginning to align with this new reality. Recent legislation, such as the CLARITY and GENIUS Acts, is providing clearer guidelines for companies offering self-custodial wallet solutions, removing major barriers to mainstream adoption. Traditional financial institutions are taking notice, as the infrastructure was designed for a mobile-first, global economy—something traditional systems were not built for [1].
What’s emerging is a new financial operating system: one where programmable money enables innovative economic models and global transactions settle in seconds. While the transition may not be obvious to the average user, the benefits are clear—faster, cheaper, and more accessible financial tools are now available through crypto infrastructure, reshaping industries from finance to social media. As these platforms continue to grow, the crypto infrastructure behind them will remain largely invisible, yet increasingly indispensable [1].
Source: [1] How Crypto Infrastructure Is Eating Everything (https://www.forbes.com/sites/boazsobrado/2025/08/06/how-crypto-infrastructure-is-eating-everything/)
