Uber Eyes Stablecoins to Cut Cross-Border Payment Costs — Bitcoin Remains Off the Table

In a recent interview with Bloomberg Podcasts, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi reaffirmed the company’s growing interest in digital currencies — particularly those pegged to fiat currencies, such as stablecoins. However, he also reiterated that Uber has no intention of following other major corporations into direct Bitcoin investments.

“We’re still in an exploratory phase,” Khosrowshahi said. “But stablecoins strike us as one of the most useful and practical forms of crypto, particularly for large, international companies managing cross-border payments. They offer a way to reduce costs without the volatility of traditional crypto assets.”

Uber’s operations span more than 70 countries and millions of daily transactions — a scope that makes foreign exchange fees and payment settlement delays particularly impactful on margins. In that context, stablecoins like USDC or USDT could provide real-time settlement and lower remittance costs compared to traditional banking infrastructure or SWIFT-based transfers.

Despite this potential, Uber has not disclosed any development timeline or public plans to implement stablecoin payments. The company remains cautious, prioritizing compliance and regulatory clarity before taking actionable steps toward crypto adoption.

This is not Uber’s first public exploration of crypto. Back in 2022, Khosrowshahi hinted that the company was considering cryptocurrency payments, but the concept never moved past internal discussions. Since then, institutional adoption of Bitcoin has grown, with players like Tesla and MicroStrategy adding it to their balance sheets — a move Uber has deliberately chosen to avoid.

“We’re not looking at Bitcoin as an investment strategy,” the CEO noted. “For us, it’s about utility and value-added processes. Stablecoins are better positioned to support predictable, efficient financial flows.”

While Uber appears open to blockchain-based innovation, the company has not announced any development of Web3 integrations, crypto wallets, or decentralized identity solutions — in contrast to a growing number of tech firms embracing tokenized ecosystems and crypto-native interfaces.

Concerns around security and user safety may also influence Uber’s measured approach. The firm recently faced criticism after a customer fell victim to a wrench attack involving a counterfeit Uber vehicle, highlighting the real-world risks tied to payment and identity vulnerabilities in the digital age.

For now, Uber’s position reflects a broader trend in fintech: measured interest in stablecoins for operational purposes, without jumping headfirst into speculative crypto markets. As global payment rails modernize and digital currencies gain clarity under evolving regulatory frameworks, Uber’s cautious interest in stablecoins could foreshadow more concrete moves in the future.