Meta plans to reenter the stablecoin market later this year, four years after regulators blocked its earlier digital currency effort, Libra. The company is preparing to integrate dollar-pegged payments across its social platforms, according to people familiar with the matter.

Sources cited by Coindesk said Meta issued requests for product proposals to external firms to help manage stablecoin-based payments. One named Stripe, which acquired the stablecoin infrastructure firm Bridge last year, as a possible partner. Stripe CEO Patrick Collison joined Meta’s board in 2025, signaling tighter cooperation between the two companies.

SCOOP: Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta is planning a stablecoin comeback in H2, eyeing a third-party vendor as a key partner to power payments across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.@IanAllison123 reportshttps://t.co/NGgZHy9MC0

— CoinDesk (@CoinDesk) February 24, 2026

Meta Sends Out RFPs for Stablecoin Integration

Commenting on the move, fintech analyst Simon Taylor said Meta’s latest move is about distribution, not reinvention. He added that stablecoins could become the “settlement layer” for Meta’s AI-driven commerce as digital agents begin to transact globally.

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“I can imagine stablecoins will improve cross border flows in long-tail markets where Meta already operates, as it does for Deel and Payoneer today, but think about AI. Meta is earmarking $115-135B in 2026 capex, mostly for AI. They're building agents that shop and transact autonomously, "agentic commerce.”

Meta aims to begin integration in the second half of 2026, supported by a new wallet feature. Unlike the failed Libra project, Meta’s new plan relies on third-party payment infrastructure rather than building its own currency. “They want to do this, but at arm’s length,” one source said.

Regulation and Timing

Meta’s renewed push follows the passage of the U.S. GENIUS Act in 2025, which established rules for stablecoin issuers. The company is reportedly racing to launch before provisions limiting big tech stablecoin activity take effect later this year.

If successful, Meta could enable faster, lower-cost payments within Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp while positioning itself to compete with Elon Musk’s X and Telegram, both pursuing in-app payment systems.