Tether-backed crypto payments company Oobit has launched its non-custodial payments platform in Colombia, marking its ninth live market in Latin America. The expansion follows recent entries into Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, and signals growing demand for digital asset spending on everyday purchases across the region.
Real-world crypto spending gains traction
Oobit’s platform allows users to spend digital assets directly from their wallets through a Visa-linked payment system accepted at over 150 million merchants across more than 80 countries. Unlike traditional crypto payment methods that require converting funds through bank off-ramp services, Oobit enables direct wallet-to-merchant transactions.
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According to data cited in the announcement, the Colombian peso ranked second globally in the share of centralized exchange stablecoin purchases by currency, underscoring the country’s appetite for dollar-pegged digital assets.
User activity and spending patterns
Since launching in Brazil in November 2024, Oobit has seen activity increase more than 200%, with active users spending an average of about $400 per month across 20 transactions. The company reported that USDT (USDT) accounted for the largest share of transactions on the platform, ahead of Oobit’s native token and USDC (USDC).
Spending data reveals that grocery stores and supermarkets represent 35% of activity across Oobit’s Latin American markets, followed by restaurants, food stores, and department stores. In Brazil, users also spent crypto at gas stations, beauty shops, and electronics retailers.
Stablecoin adoption accelerates across emerging markets
The expansion comes as stablecoins and other digital assets are increasingly used for everyday purchases and consumer payments across emerging markets. In April, Mercado Libre, Latin America’s largest online marketplace, launched stablecoin-based transfers between Brazil, Mexico, and Chile using its Meli Dollar token. The stablecoin can also be used within Mercado Libre’s marketplace ecosystem and distributed to users as cashback.
A 2025 report from Bitso found that US dollar-linked stablecoins accounted for 40% of crypto purchases on its platform in 2025, more than double Bitcoin’s (BTC) 18% share. The exchange said the trend reflected growing use of stablecoins for payments and other everyday financial transactions across Latin America.
Data from DefiLlama shows the stablecoin market has grown from about $243 billion a year ago to more than $322 billion today, indicating sustained demand for dollar-pegged digital assets.
Conclusion
Oobit’s expansion into Colombia reflects a broader trend of crypto payments moving into mainstream commerce across Latin America. With stablecoin adoption rising and users increasingly spending digital assets on everyday items like groceries and restaurant meals, the region is emerging as a testing ground for real-world crypto utility. The growth of non-custodial payment platforms may signal a shift away from speculative trading toward practical, daily use of digital currencies.
FAQs
Q1: What is Oobit’s crypto payments platform?
Oobit operates a non-custodial crypto payments platform that allows users to spend digital assets directly from their wallets through a Visa-linked payment system, without needing to convert funds through traditional bank off-ramp services.
Q2: Which cryptocurrencies are most used on Oobit?
According to the company, Tether’s USDT (USDT) accounts for the largest share of transactions on the platform, followed by Oobit’s native token and USDC (USDC).
Q3: How many merchants accept Oobit payments?
Oobit’s Visa-linked payment system is accepted at more than 150 million merchants across over 80 countries worldwide.
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