Klarna Introduces Stablecoin to Reduce $120 Billion in International Payment Charges

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Klarna Introduces Stablecoin to Reduce $120 Billion in International Payment Charges

Bitget-RWA2025/11/25 17:10

By:Bitget-RWA

- Klarna launches KlarnaUSD, a USD-backed stablecoin on Stripe/Paradigm's Tempo blockchain to challenge traditional cross-border payment networks. - Aims to cut $120B in annual fees by offering faster, cheaper transactions via Tempo's payment-optimized infrastructure. - CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski's crypto pivot aligns with $27T stablecoin market growth and regulatory frameworks like the U.S. GENIUS Act. - Partnership with Stripe's $1.1B-acquired Bridge platform and $5B-valuation Tempo underscores fintech'

Swedish fintech powerhouse

Klarna

has made its debut in the stablecoin sector by unveiling KlarnaUSD, a digital token pegged to the U.S. dollar that aims to simplify international payments and disrupt established financial systems. Built on the Tempo blockchain—a collaboration between Stripe and Paradigm—this move signals a major shift for the buy-now-pay-later pioneer, which has previously approached cryptocurrency with caution

as reported

Klarna Introduces Stablecoin to Reduce $120 Billion in International Payment Charges image 0

KlarnaUSD is set to tap into the booming stablecoin industry, where yearly transaction volumes have now surpassed $27 trillion,

according to McKinsey

. The token will first be available on Tempo’s testnet, with a full mainnet rollout targeted for 2026. By utilizing Tempo’s payment-focused blockchain, Klarna is looking to cut into the $120 billion in annual fees generated by conventional cross-border payments,

providing quicker and more affordable solutions

for both shoppers and businesses.

This initiative marks a significant turnaround for Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski, who was once skeptical of crypto but now champions its advantages. “Crypto has reached a point where it is efficient, cost-effective, secure, and scalable,” he said, highlighting that Klarna’s 114 million users and $118 billion in yearly gross merchandise value (GMV) put the company in a strong position to “take on traditional networks”

according to market analysis

. The creation of the stablecoin coincides with favorable regulatory developments, such as the U.S. GENIUS Act and the EU’s MiCA regulations, which are offering more defined rules for stablecoin issuers

as research indicates

Klarna’s collaboration with Stripe builds on a longstanding partnership across 26 countries. The stablecoin utilizes Open Issuance by Bridge, a Stripe subsidiary acquired for $1.1 billion earlier this year. Since its launch in September, Tempo has secured $500 million in funding and is valued at $5 billion,

with backing from companies such as Visa and OpenAI

. This partnership highlights Klarna’s commitment to embedding blockchain into its main payment systems and expanding its presence in the crypto space,

with more alliances anticipated soon

On the financial front, Klarna enters the stablecoin competition with robust liquidity. Despite generating $3.2 billion in revenue over the past year and trading near its 52-week low, the company’s current ratio of 29.46 allows room for innovation. Its latest third-quarter report revealed

a 23% increase in GMV year-over-year

, strengthening its rationale for branching into digital currencies. Experts suggest that stablecoins could surpass traditional payment systems by the decade’s end,

a shift Klarna is eager to drive

This launch is also in step with wider industry trends. PayPal and Stripe have already rolled out their own stablecoins, and clearer regulations in the U.S. and Europe have attracted more institutional players. JPMorgan recently noted that Circle’s

USDC

has overtaken Tether’s

USDT

in on-chain transactions, reflecting a maturing sector

according to industry analysis

. Klarna’s move further signals the trend of fintechs and banks turning to blockchain for greater efficiency and scalability.

Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.

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