table of contents
The familiar holiday market that silently changes at checkout How stablecoin payments work in urban spaces Why faster payments are important for small businesses From holiday markets to global payments Avalanche and regulated financial products Conclusion Resources FAQs
New York City’s oldest holiday market is I’m using it nowstable coin Payments will be made this winter, but most visitors will not notice the difference. Union Square Holiday Market now allows shoppers to pay for vendors of their choice through Urbanspace’s mobile app. This app settles payments in USDC. avalanche blockchain.
This seasonal pilot will see blockchain payments take place within a real-world mass retail environment. Union Square is a bustling public market that welcomed more than 1 million visitors last year. If stablecoin payments work smoothly here, they can work just about anywhere.
A familiar holiday market that quietly transforms at checkout.
Every winter, the Union Square Holiday Market becomes its own little city. The scent of cider and roasted nuts fills the air. Handmade candles, scarves and local food line the aisles.
This year, Urban Space has incorporated new payment options into its familiar routine. Shoppers can browse, open the Urbanspace app, tap to pay, and move on. No need to set up a cryptocurrency wallet, manage private keys, or take any visible blockchain steps.
Behind the scenes, payments are settled in USDC, a dollar-pegged stablecoin issued by Circle through a regulated entity. Avalanche processes transactions in seconds. Funds reach the seller almost instantly.
From a customer’s perspective, it feels like any other mobile payment. From a merchant’s perspective, it changes how and when payments are received.
Urban Space stablecoin payment mechanism
This system is designed to be unobtrusive. Urbanspace has built its payment flow so that shoppers don’t need to understand blockchain to use it.
Here’s what happens during the purchase:
- Shoppers pay through the Urbanspace app.
- Payments are denominated in USDC and pegged to the US dollar.
- Avalanche validates and finalizes the transaction within seconds.
- Vendors receive funds without having to wait days for payment.
USDC is used to eliminate price volatility. 1 USDC is equivalent to 1 US dollar and is backed by cash and short-term government bonds.
Avalanche was chosen for its fast finality and low transaction costs.
Why faster payments are important for small and medium-sized businesses
For large retailers, waiting several days for card payments to clear is inconvenient. For small vendors, this can be a big problem.
Union Square vendors often operate with limited staff, limited inventory and tight cash flow. The holiday season is their busiest time. Delays in accessing your earnings can mean waiting for replenishment or payment of daily expenses.
Traditional card payments present several challenges.
- Funds may take several days to clear.
- Currency exchange fees reduce each sale.
- Chargebacks and adjustments add administrative effort.
- Payment schedules are fixed and inflexible.
By settling on Avalanche, many of these frictions are alleviated. Transactions are cleared in seconds. Prices are predictable and low. Vendors have near-instant access to revenue.
“The Union Square Holiday Market attracts so many small businesses, and this pilot allows us to explore simple, modern payment options that have the potential to benefit small businesses during the busiest time of the year,” said Eldon Scott, president of Urban Space.
The Union Square Holiday Market runs through December 24th. In the meantime, Urban Space will monitor the reactions of vendors and shoppers.
The platform also includes:
- Digital vendor directory.
- Seasonal promotions.
- A tool that helps visitors discover local businesses.
From holiday markets to global payments
The same network that supports small vendors in New York is being tested by major financial institutions.
Avalanche has been considered for stablecoin and tokenized payment settlement by companies such as Visa, JP Morgan, and Citi. The goal is similar in each case. That means moving funds faster, with clearer records and lower costs.
In Japan, TIS Inc., a $2 trillion-plus annual payments processing company, built a multi-token payment platform on top of Avalanche. This system aims to streamline payments across the network.
A recent example is Southeast Asia. On December 8th, Thailand’s Kasikorn Bank, commonly known as K Bank, partnered Streamline cross-border payments between Thailand and Singapore with StraitsX and Avalanche.
The project, called “Seamless Travel Payments on Chain,” was announced at the Singapore Fintech Festival 2025. This project focuses on real-time payments for tourists and merchants.
Avalanche and regulated financial products
Avalanche’s role is not limited to payments. They are also becoming part of regulated investment products.
In November 2025, Bitwise Asset Management Amendment S-1 Partnered with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Spot Avalanche ETF. The proposed fund, ticker BAVA, includes staking as part of its structure.
ETFs are designed as grantor trusts. Investors are treated as direct owners of AVAX. Staking rewards are passed on to shareholders. The Fund does not use leverage or derivatives.
Custody is handled by Coinbase Custody, and assets are stored in isolated cold storage. There is no clearly disclosed FDIC or SIPC insurance.
The filing indicates that Avalanche is being considered within the traditional regulatory framework, rather than outside of it.
Furthermore, securitization Start of pan-European trade Avalanche payment system based on EU DLT pilot scheme.
This system integrates trading and payments into one regulated environment. Tokenized stocks and bonds can be traded and settled within seconds.
Regulators such as the European Securities and Markets Authority and the European Central Bank are overseeing this development. The platform operates in all 27 EU member states.
conclusion
The use of stablecoin payments at the Union Square Holiday Market is quiet by design. Powered by Avalanche and delivered through Urbanspace’s app, the system settles USDC payments in seconds without changing the way you shop.
For vendors, it provides faster access to revenue and reduces friction during the busiest time of the year. For shoppers, it will feel like familiar mobile payments.
The same infrastructure supports global banks, cross-border payments in Asia, regulated ETFs, and tokenized securities in Europe. Union Square supports a cup of cocoa and a handmade scarf.
resource
Blog post by Avalanche: A new kind of holiday exchange comes to New York City
Avalanche of X: Announced on November 27th
Press release by Securitize: Securitize receives full EU regulatory approval and selects Avalanche for initial deployment of European trading and payment system
Coin desk article: Avalanche ETF Race
SEC document: Bitwise S-1 correction
