Walmart Fully Embraces Crypto Payments: A Silent Revolution in Financial Sovereignty

On January 5, 2026, global retail giant Walmart officially announced the integration of cryptocurrencies into its payment system, supporting mainstream assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. This news hit like a boulder in the ocean, instantly stirring waves across the crypto market. But this transformation is far from a simple trend-jacking; it is Walmart’s strategic reclaiming of its financial sovereignty and a silent revolution that could shake the traditional financial system.

1. Walmart’s “Awakening to Financial Sovereignty”: From “Cash Flow Machine” to Payment Revolution Initiator

Walmart’s business model is like a finely tuned “cash flow machine”: 2.3 million employees worldwide, operations in 24 countries, annual revenue exceeding $600 billion. However, the traditional payment system has become a bottleneck to efficiency:

1. High Fees: Credit card networks charge 1.5%-3% fees, which are like “invisible taxes” for low-margin retail, consuming billions in profit annually.

2. Long Settlement Cycles: T+1/T+2 settlement speeds greatly reduce cash flow efficiency, preventing immediate reinvestment into supply chains.

3. Data Sovereignty Loss: Payment data is controlled by banks and payment institutions, leaving Walmart, as the transaction core, unable to fully grasp customer financial profiles.

Cryptocurrency payments offer Walmart a way out:

Cost Restructuring: Stablecoins and on-chain payments reduce fees to network fee levels, enabling controllable cost optimization.

Real-Time Settlement: On-chain transactions are completed within seconds, with funds instantly flowing back, reshaping cash flow efficiency.

Data Sovereignty Return: Through its own fintech subsidiary OnePay, Walmart launches OnePay Cash, regaining control over payments and user data, and layering financial services like memberships and points to build a closed-loop ecosystem.

2. OnePay Cash: The “Invisible Battlefield” of Crypto Payments

OnePay Cash collaborates with crypto infrastructure provider Zerohash to enable real-time Bitcoin payments and settlements. When users choose crypto payments at checkout, the system automatically converts Bitcoin at real-time exchange rates into USD, ensuring Walmart receives stable USD payments, completely avoiding crypto price volatility risks. This feature has been rolled out across the US in both online and offline scenarios, marking Walmart’s quiet transformation from a “retailer” to a “fintech giant.”

3. Chain Reaction of Crypto Payments: Redefining the Financial Power Map

Walmart’s move is not an isolated business decision but a lever to shift the structure of financial power:

1. Challenge to Banks: As the world’s largest retailer bypasses traditional clearing systems, the role of banks as intermediaries will be redefined.

2. Impact on Monetary Sovereignty: Business giants freely choosing settlement currencies pose new challenges to national currencies.

3. Transformation of the Crypto Industry: Walmart’s entry is not a “bullish signal” but a milestone for cryptocurrencies moving from the “financial fringe” to the “business backbone.”

4. Rise of Stablecoins: The Underlying Fuel for Crypto Payments

The feasibility of crypto payments heavily relies on the explosive growth of stablecoins:

In 2025, stablecoin trading volume exceeded $4.6 trillion, covering cross-border payments, DeFi, institutional settlements, and more.

Market cap surpassed $310 billion, with giants like Amazon and eBay integrating stablecoin payments.

Coinbase predicts that by 2028, stablecoin market cap could reach $1.2 trillion.

Walmart’s involvement further validates the technological maturity and commercial viability of crypto payments, accelerating the shift of financial power from banks to business platforms.

5. The Essence of Financial Power Rebuilding: From “Centralization” to “Multi-Centralization”

Bitcoin, as a store of value and non-sovereign settlement layer, stablecoins as commercial payment tools, and national digital currencies for taxation and governance—future financial systems will exhibit a “multi-centralized” structure. This is not a disruption of the existing system but a dismantling and reorganization of power, a long-term game over “who defines money.”

Conclusion: Walmart’s Chess Game, the Future of Finance

Walmart’s adoption of crypto payments is not about chasing trends but about reclaiming its payment sovereignty. Behind this silent revolution is a pursuit of ultimate financial efficiency and data sovereignty by a commercial giant, and a historic leap of cryptocurrencies from “alternative assets” to “foundational infrastructure.”

Deep insights, independent thinking. Are you ready for the wave of crypto?

🌟 Like and support deep insights 🌟 Share and spread industry transformation 🌟 Leave your comments and share your views 🌟 Follow us for more cutting-edge news

Let’s witness the reconstruction of financial power and explore the future of the digital economy!

Note: This article is based on publicly available information and analysis and does not constitute investment advice. Crypto markets are highly volatile; please assess risks rationally. #GateAI正式上线 #比特币六连涨 #Meme币板块回暖 #Meme币板块回暖 #美司法部抛售比特币 $BTC ‌$ETH $GT ‌