Klarna (KLAR) is stepping into the blockchain arena after years of distance, revealing plans to launch KlarnaUSD, which is a U.S. dollar–pegged stablecoin designed for global transfers. The token will be issued through Stripe’s (PC:STRPQ) Bridge infrastructure and will launch on Tempo, a new payments-first blockchain built by Stripe and Paradigm. Klarna said the coin is in testing and will reach the public next year.
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It shows just how far Klarna has moved from its earlier dismissal of crypto, especially for a company that originally built its reputation on buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) lending instead of digital assets. The company now believes stablecoins are mature enough to serve as real financial plumbing, offering speed and cost benefits that traditional rails cannot match.
Klarna Partners with Stripe to Drive Down Cross-Border Costs
Klarna is positioning the stablecoin as a tool to slash global remittance and settlement expenses. The company cited an estimated 120 billion dollars in annual worldwide cross-border fees, saying KlarnaUSD can shrink those costs considerably by using blockchain settlement instead of correspondent banking routes.
Stripe will serve as the engine behind the token. Bridge, its stablecoin issuance platform, handles minting and redemption, while the Tempo blockchain provides high throughput and low-latency settlement. Klarna already works extensively with Stripe for payments processing, and the stablecoin initiative deepens that relationship.
Klarna Joins a Growing Wave of Fintech Stablecoin Adoption
Several major financial firms have recently leaned into stablecoins as the technology gains mainstream acceptance. Last month, Western Union (WU) announced plans to bring a stablecoin to Solana (SOL-USD) in partnership with Anchorage Digital (PC:ANCHD). Klarna is now part of that same migration, turning to blockchain after historically showing skepticism toward crypto rails.
Co-founder and CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski said the timing coincides with an inflection point for the industry. “Crypto is finally at a stage where it is fast, low-cost, secure, and built for scale,” he said. He added that Klarna’s 114 million customers and 112 billion dollars in annual gross merchandise volume give the company the heft to reshape how global payments move.
Klarna Signals More Crypto Moves Ahead
Klarna suggested further crypto-related partnerships will be announced in the coming weeks, indicating that KlarnaUSD may be the first step in a broader strategy. The company’s rapid expansion into global banking markets and its deepening reliance on Stripe hint at a future where digital assets become a routine part of its payments ecosystem.
For now, Klarna’s stablecoin initiative places it among the first major consumer fintechs to adopt Stripe’s blockchain stack and positions the firm to compete in a growing race to modernize global money movement.
Is Klarna a Good Buy?
Analysts remain broadly optimistic on Klarna Group Plc, and the latest Wall Street survey reflects that confidence. Over the past three months, 16 analysts have issued ratings on the stock, and the consensus lands firmly in Strong Buy territory. 13 of those analysts recommend a Buy, while the remaining three urge investors to Hold. None have issued a Sell call.
Price targets echo that optimism. The average 12-month KLAR forecast sits at $47.53, implying roughly 63% upside from the recent trading level.
