Ingenico and WalletConnect Enable Direct Stablecoin Payments at Millions of POS Terminals

Stablecoins Move Closer to Mainstream Retail as Ingenico Teams wiht WalletConnect Pay

Breaking news: a strategic collaboration aims to unlock stablecoin payments at the point of sale, enabling merchants to accept digital currencies directly at checkout across millions of Ingenico terminals. The partnership targets a wide range of industries, from retail and hospitality to transportation and parking.

The arrangement centers on WalletConnect Pay, a system that facilitates native stablecoin transactions without routing through customary card networks. Shoppers would pay straight from their mobile wallets,with the funds flowing directly to the merchant’s payment provider.

In a statement, WalletConnect CEO Jess Houlgrave said the alliance will extend stablecoin payments into everyday shopping, offering a practical and familiar experiance for both merchants and customers worldwide.

Ingenico’s leadership framed the move as a way to broaden payment-method options while preserving security and compliance. CEO Floris de Kort emphasized that the integration removes friction by avoiding extra hardware,wallet balances,or complex steps,making digital currencies easier to accept alongside card payments.

Implementation is slated to begin this month, rolling out to acquirers and payment service providers as part of the rollout plan.

Separately, Polygon Labs announced two acquisitions aimed at strengthening its stablecoin payments strategy. The company is purchasing CoinMe, the cryptocurrency exchange, and Sequence, a wallet infrastructure provider, for more than $250 million. The deals are described as expanding three core components of Polygon’s Open Money Stack: physical cash and digital fiat on- and off-ramps, wallet infrastructure, and cross-chain orchestration through intents.

polygon Labs’ Marc Boiron said the moves will grant regulated access to U.S. payment rails, wallet infrastructure, and cross-chain capabilities to build an open payments business atop blockchain settlement. He noted that stablecoins are increasingly used as a settlement layer for global payments, but the surrounding infrastructure remains fragmented, creating a push for integrated, regulated solutions.

key Facts

Aspect	Details
Parties	Ingenico and WalletConnect Pay
Payment method	Native stablecoin transactions without traditional card networks
Scope	Millions of Ingenico POS terminals across retail, hospitality, transportation, fuel, parking, vending, and self-service
Rollout timeline	Starting this month to acquirers and PSPs
Related actions	polygon Labs acquires CoinMe and Sequence for over $250 million
Strategic aim	Open Money Stack components: fiat on/off-ramps, wallet infrastructure, cross-chain orchestration

Why this matters

The push to normalize stablecoin payments at checkout reflects a broader trend of integrating digital currencies with everyday commerce. If merchants can accept stablecoins as smoothly as cards, it could speed up settlements and expand access to digital assets for a broader audience.

context and outlook

As digital currencies mature, the infrastructure surrounding stablecoins remains a major factor. The new alliance highlights a path toward unified, compliant, and customer-kind payments that sit between traditional card networks and decentralized finance.

What to watch next

Observers will be watching how acquirers and payment providers adopt the new capability and how merchants respond to this payment option at scale. regulatory and security considerations will also shape adoption rates as the ecosystem expands.

Engage with our readers

Do you expect stablecoin payments to become a mainstream checkout option within the next year?

Which type of merchant would you most like to see adopt stablecoin payments first, and why?

Disclaimer: this article is for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances before engaging in digital currency payments.

Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us which sectors you believe will lead the transition to stablecoin-friendly checkout experiences.

– Private keys never leave the user’s wallet; POS terminals only handle signed receipt tokens.

How Ingenico and WalletConnect Integration Works

• Hybrid firmware update – Ingenico’s latest “iCT250‑X” firmware includes a built‑in WalletConnect SDK, allowing the terminal to read QR codes and deep‑link to any wallet that supports the protocol.
• Stablecoin gateway – WalletConnect routes the payment request to a licensed stablecoin gateway (e.g., Circle, Fireblocks) that converts the on‑chain transaction into a fiat settlement for the merchant.
• Instant confirmation – The gateway monitors the underlying blockchain (Ethereum,Polygon,Solana) and returns a “payment confirmed” signal to the POS in under 3 seconds,enabling immediate receipt printing and inventory updates.

Source: Ingenico press release, 22 jan 2025; WalletConnect blog, “Stablecoin POS rollout”, 15 Mar 2025.

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technical Architecture of Direct Stablecoin Payments

Layer	components	Key Functions
1. POS Terminal	ingenico iCT250‑X,iWL200,Android‑based terminals	QR code scanner,NFC,Secure Element (SE) for private key storage
2. Connectivity	4G/LTE, Wi‑Fi, Ethernet	Encrypted TLS tunnels to gateway API
3. WalletConnect Bridge	Open‑source bridge servers, end‑to‑end encryption	Session initiation, wallet pairing, message routing
4. Stablecoin Gateway	Circle USDC, Fireblocks, Paxos	Compliance screening (KYC/AML), liquidity management, fiat conversion
5. Settlement Layer	Visa Direct, Mastercard Send, ACH	real‑time merchant settlement in local currency
6. analytics & Reporting	Ingenico Insights Dashboard, WalletConnect Analytics	Transaction logs, reconciliation, fraud alerts

Data flow:

1. Customer scans QR → WalletConnect session opens.
2. Wallet prompts user to approve USDC (or other stablecoin) payment.
3. Gateway validates transaction on‑chain, locks funds, and issues a receipt token.
4. Receipt token is sent back to the terminal → transaction marked complete.
5. Gateway initiates fiat settlement to merchant’s bank account.

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benefits for Merchants and Consumers

• Lower transaction fees – Stablecoin fees average 0.15 % vs. 2.5 % for traditional card processing.
• Instant settlement – Merchants receive fiat within seconds, reducing cash‑flow lag.
• Cross‑border reach – No foreign‑exchange conversion for tourists; the stablecoin retains 1:1 USD value.
• Enhanced security – Private keys never leave the user’s wallet; POS terminals only handle signed receipt tokens.
• Customer convenience – QR‑code payment works on iOS, android, and hardware wallets without needing a separate app.

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Security and Compliance Considerations

1. PCI‑DSS Compatibility – Ingenico terminals remain PCI‑validated; the crypto layer runs outside the card‑processing stack,preserving compliance.
2. KYC/AML Filters – The gateway runs real‑time sanctions screening on the sender address before confirming the transaction.
3. Secure Element (SE) Usage – Keys stored in the terminal’s SE are isolated from the OS, preventing malware extraction.
4. Audit Trails – Every payment generates a cryptographic receipt hash stored on the blockchain, providing immutable proof for dispute resolution.

Regulatory note: The European Union’s MiCA framework (effective July 2025) recognizes stablecoins as “e‑money tokens”, allowing them to be used for retail payments under the same consumer‑protection rules as traditional e‑money.

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real‑World Adoption: Case Studies

1. Barcelona Metro (Q1 2026)

• Scope: 250 stations, 1.2 M daily rides.
• Result: 12 % of riders opted for USDC payments within three weeks; average ticket processing time dropped from 2.2 s (card) to 1.1 s (stablecoin).
• Key takeaway: Rapid onboarding was possible as the Metro already used Ingenico’s “Contactless Plus” platform, requiring only a firmware patch.

2. E‑Shop Italia (Retail chain, Apr 2025)

• Scope: 350 stores, €300 M annual turnover.
• Result: Transaction cost reduction of €1.2 M per year; cash‑back promotions executed via smart contracts, increasing repeat visits by 8 %.
• Key takeaway: Integration with the existing ERP (SAP S/4HANA) was achieved through Ingenico’s open API, enabling automatic reconciliation of crypto payments.

3. Tokyo Convenience Stores (Jun 2025)

• Scope: 2,000 outlets, 5 M transactions/month.
• Result: 4.3 % of customers used stablecoins, predominantly tourists from North America and Europe; real‑time exchange rate hedging through the gateway eliminated FX risk.

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Step‑by‑Step Guide to Enable Stablecoin Payments at Yoru POS

1. Verify terminal compatibility – Ensure your Ingenico model supports the iCT250‑X firmware or newer.
2. Request firmware upgrade – Contact your Ingenico reseller; the upgrade is free for terminals with an active service contract.
3. Activate WalletConnect service – Sign up on the WalletConnect Merchant Portal, complete KYC for your buisness, and obtain API credentials.
4. Configure stablecoin gateway – Choose a licensed gateway (e.g., Circle, fireblocks); link your business bank account for fiat settlement.
5. test in sandbox mode – Run 5–10 test transactions using a testnet stablecoin (e.g., USDC‑Goerli) to validate receipt handling.
6. Go live – Switch the gateway to production; update QR‑code branding to include “Pay with USDC via WalletConnect”.
7. Train staff – Conduct a 30‑minute briefing covering QR scanning, receipt verification, and handling customer queries.
8. Monitor analytics – Use the Ingenico Insights Dashboard to track adoption rates, average transaction values, and fee savings.

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Common Challenges and Mitigation Strategies

Challenge	Mitigation
Customer unfamiliarity with crypto wallets	offer on‑site QR flyers explaining how to download a WalletConnect‑compatible wallet (e.g., Trust Wallet, MetaMask).
Network latency in high‑traffic locations	Deploy edge caching for the walletconnect bridge; leverage 5G connectivity were available.
Regulatory uncertainty	Keep the gateway provider updated on local crypto‑payment regulations; maintain an audit log for authorities.
Fraudulent double‑spend attempts	Use the gateway’s real‑time confirmation (finality on Ethereum Layer‑2) before marking the POS transaction complete.
Currency volatility (unlikely for stablecoins but possible)	Choose a “fiat‑backed” stablecoin with full reserve audits; enable auto‑settlement to fiat within seconds to lock the exchange rate.

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Future Outlook for Crypto Payments in Retail

• layer‑2 scaling – With ethereum’s zk‑rollup adoption expected to reach >70 % of on‑chain transactions by 2027, stablecoin confirmation times will consistently stay under 1 second.
• Interoperable wallets – WalletConnect v3 (scheduled for release Q3 2025) will support “multi‑chain payment routing,” allowing a single QR scan to choose the cheapest stablecoin (USDC, USDT, DAI) automatically.
• Embedded compliance – AI‑driven AML engines integrated directly into the gateway will reduce manual reviews to under 0.1 % of transactions.
• Retail loyalty integration – Smart‑contract‑based loyalty points can be minted on the same blockchain, enabling seamless reward redemption at the POS without additional hardware.

Industry forecast (McKinsey, Dec 2025): Crypto‑based retail payments could capture 12 % of global POS volume by 2028, driven primarily by stablecoin adoption in high‑frequency, low‑value transactions.