Meta stablecoin making a comeback? Rumors suggest it will return in the second half of this year, with Stripe expected to become a pilot operator.

Rumors suggest Meta will re-enter the stablecoin market in the second half of the year, with payment platform Stripe potentially serving as a pilot partner. Despite Libra’s project being declared a failure, Zuckerberg still aims to make a comeback. Additionally, Stripe, valued at $159 billion, is rumored to be interested in acquiring PayPal.

Meta to Relaunch Stablecoin in Second Half, Stripe Could Be Key Partner

According to CoinDesk, Meta plans to re-enter the stablecoin market in the second half of this year. Sources reveal that Meta has issued a product requirement proposal to third-party companies, seeking assistance in managing stablecoin-based payment operations, with Stripe named as a potential pilot partner for Meta’s stablecoin.

Stripe has been a long-term partner of Meta. Its CEO Patrick Collison joined Meta’s board in April 2025, and last year, it acquired stablecoin company Bridge, further strengthening its crypto payment infrastructure.

• Related article: The biggest merger in crypto history! Stripe’s $1.1 billion acquisition of Bridge — what’s the strategic move?

Stripe Expands, Rumored to Consider Acquiring PayPal

In addition to potential collaboration with Meta, Stripe has been actively expanding in the financial sector.

According to Bloomberg, Stripe is considering a full or partial acquisition of the global payment giant PayPal, which is facing challenges. Sources indicate that Stripe has expressed preliminary interest in acquiring PayPal and is still in early evaluation stages, with no final deal confirmed.

With Stripe’s recent valuation reaching $159 billion and its previous acquisition of Bridge, a further acquisition of PayPal could reshape the competitive landscape of digital payments worldwide.

Image source: Stripe Docs Meta to Relaunch Stablecoin in Second Half, Stripe Could Be a Key Partner

After Libra (Diem) setback, Meta Still Not Giving Up

Looking back to 2019, Meta launched a stablecoin project called Libra (later renamed Diem), aiming to create a new type of cryptocurrency that could be used across platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp.

However, the project quickly faced strong opposition from the U.S. Congress and other lawmakers. As a result, the Libra Association scaled back its goals in 2020, shifting focus to developing multiple stablecoins pegged to different currencies, rather than the initially planned global digital currency backed by a basket of national currencies.

Ultimately, Libra (Diem) was never officially launched and was shut down in early 2022, with its assets sold off. However, according to a 2025 report by Fortune magazine, Meta is once again in talks with crypto companies, planning to launch a stablecoin as a payment management tool, and has hired a product VP with crypto experience to help advance these negotiations.

Zuckerberg Admits Failure, Shows Determination to Make a Comeback

According to footage obtained by Fortune magazine, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, during a 2025 Stripe conference, publicly acknowledged the failure of the Diem project, stating outright that the project has been definitively ended.

When asked about Meta’s tendency to jump into emerging tech trends early, Zuckerberg responded that early involvement in new technologies is indeed very interesting, but he also added that even though Meta often starts later in many areas, they are very good at catching up and re-entering the competitive race.

Further reading:
Meta’s stablecoin Diem becomes a controversial issue in the Genius Bill! Democratic lawmakers: Zuckerberg is out of touch