- YouTube now allows U.S. creators to receive payouts in PayPal’s stablecoin, PYUSD.
- The move reflects growing interest among Big Tech in stablecoins.
- PayPal expands PYUSD use across PayPal, Venmo, merchant payments, and now YouTube creator payouts.
Big Tech is taking another cautious but notable step into crypto. YouTube has introduced an option allowing U.S. creators to receive their earnings in PayPal’s U.S. dollar–backed stablecoin, PYUSD.
May Zabaneh, PayPal’s head of crypto, confirmed to Fortune that the feature is now live and currently limited to creators based in the United States.
A Google spokesperson also confirmed the addition of stablecoin payouts but declined to provide further details. YouTube already uses PayPal’s enterprise payouts infrastructure to compensate gig workers and creators worldwide.
How the Integration Works
PayPal upgraded its payouts service early in Q3, enabling recipients to choose PYUSD instead of traditional fiat. YouTube then opted to pass that choice on to creators, who earn a share of revenue from ads, memberships, and other monetization tools.
“The beauty of what we’ve built is that YouTube doesn’t have to touch crypto, and so we can help take away that complexity,” Zabaneh said. In other words, PayPal serves as the crypto layer, while YouTube remains shielded from direct handling of digital assets.
Notably, this is not YouTube’s first encounter with PYUSD. A Google Cloud executive previously disclosed that the division has accepted payments from at least two customers using the stablecoin. This suggests the tech giant is cautiously testing blockchain-based payments across multiple business units.
Big Tech Warm-Up to Stablecoins
Meanwhile, the latest move comes as Google and other tech giants revisit stablecoins amid renewed industry momentum. In September, Google partnered with over 60 global firms, including Coinbase and Mastercard, to enable stablecoin payment via AI agents.
Related: Google’s AP2 Protocol Gives AI Agents a Wallet, and Crypto Might Be Its Native Currency
Payments heavyweight Stripe made headlines in February by acquiring stablecoin infrastructure startup Bridge for $1.1 billion. These efforts confirm a strong institutional belief that stablecoins could streamline global commerce.
Notably, stablecoins have gained visibility over the past year amid a wave of regulatory clarity following President Donald Trump’s signing of a federal stablecoin bill.
PayPal Continues Its Crypto Push
PayPal has been one of the earliest large tech players to integrate crypto services. It first enabled buying and selling of Bitcoin and Ethereum in 2020. By 2023, it launched its own stablecoin, PYUSD. The token now boasts a market cap nearing $4 billion.
Users can hold the stablecoin in both PayPal and Venmo wallets, spend it at merchants, and small and mid-sized businesses can use it to settle vendor payments.
Related: Trending Today: Paxos’ $300 Trillion PYUSD Minting Error Tops Social Charts as Bitcoin Slows
Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. The article does not constitute financial advice or advice of any kind. Coin Edition is not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of the utilization of content, products, or services mentioned. Readers are advised to exercise caution before taking any action related to the company.
