In 2025, the landscape of digital assets underwent a permanent transformation, with stablecoin transactions reaching an astounding US$33 trillion.
As the “Big Four” banking behemoths swiftly move to dominate this lucrative market, Adam Turmakhan, CEO of TurmaFinTech, has issued a stern warning to regional and community banks: adapt now by forming strategic partnerships or risk being left behind permanently.
The $33 trillion “Golden Ticket”
For Turmakhan, stablecoins are not just a passing crypto trend; they signify a fundamental change in how value is transferred and stored.
With 2025 data showing unprecedented transaction volumes, the revenue potential is no longer theoretical.
“Right now, regional banks should view the stablecoin market as their golden ticket to soaring revenues,” Turmakhan emphasises.
This growth is fueled by the desire for faster, 24/7 settlements and the increasing integration of digital assets into mainstream commerce.
For smaller institutions, this volume presents a significant opportunity to capture fees and serve high-net-worth clients who are increasingly demanding digital asset integration.
Learning from the giants
The push for regional involvement isn’t happening in isolation. Industry leaders like JPMorgan have already established the framework.
In the second quarter of 2025 alone, JPMorgan reported US$4.7 billion in revenue from its deposit token and digital asset infrastructure.
While the “Big Four” have the vast capital reserves needed to develop proprietary blockchain systems from scratch, Turmakhan points out that regional banks lack that luxury. However, the success of the larger players proves that demand is real and profits are substantial.
Bridging the resource gap
The main challenge for regional banks is “firepower.” Building a secure, compliant, and efficient stablecoin platform internally is both costly and time-consuming.
Turmakhan acknowledges that for capital-constrained institutions, the traditional path to innovation is often too slow.
By partnering with agile crypto startups, regional banks can skip the “in-house experimentation” phase.
Such an approach allows them to offer sophisticated digital asset services at a fraction of the cost, thus levelling the playing field with their much larger competitors.
Attracting the high-earner demographic
Strategic growth isn’t just about technology—it’s about people. Statistics show that high earners are twice as likely to engage with the cryptocurrency market compared to the average consumer.
If regional banks fail to provide access to stablecoins, they risk losing their most valuable customers to larger institutions that do.
Turmakhan argues that these digital frameworks are becoming essential tools for reducing churn and attracting a younger, wealthier demographic that sees digital assets as a standard part of a modern portfolio.
A warning against inaction
The window for entering the market is closing. With the top four banks already claiming over half of the industry’s total profits, the “spoils” of the stablecoin boom are being rapidly consolidated.
“Regional banks cannot afford to give them another competitive edge,” Turmakhan warns. He stresses that taking action now is not just about growth—it is about survival.
If local banks wait for the market to fully mature before entering, they may find themselves permanently locked out by the infrastructure and user loyalty already established by the giants.
The path forward: collaboration
The message for 2026 is clear: collaboration is the key to competition.
By combining the regulatory trust and community presence of regional banks with the technological speed of crypto startups, local institutions can claim their share of the stablecoin boom.
As the financial sector continues to digitise, the “golden ticket” is available – but only for those willing to seize it.