YouTube Opens Stablecoin Payouts to US Creators via PayPal's PYUSD

YouTube has taken a significant step towards integrating cryptocurrencies into its creator funds payment system. The video-sharing giant has reportedly enabled payouts in PayPal’s stablecoin (PYUSD) for US-based creators. According to Fortune, PayPal’s head of crypto, May Zabaneh, said that the feature is now live and is available to users in the US only. The company integrated the ability for recipients to accept payments in PYUSD earlier this year, and now YouTube has ultimately left the choice up to its creators.

May Zabaneh said, “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.”

PayPal and YouTube Collaboration

PayPal and YouTube have a long-standing relationship. Their collaboration has enabled users to receive payouts via PayPal’s platform for many years and to use it for creator AdSense payouts. The addition of PYUSD represents a meaningful shift in YouTube’s stance on cryptocurrencies. The platform has a history of taking a cautious stance toward crypto-related content. In the past, content creators have complained of shadowbanning videos tied to digital asset topics.

The addition of the new payout option is a notable change in the company’s sentiment towards cryptocurrencies. This move can boost stablecoin adoption due to YouTube's massive global reach, even though the feature is currently limited to US-based creators. The stablecoin market has seen rapid growth as businesses, institutions, and governments have found ways to integrate stablecoins into existing financial systems.  

PYUSD was launched in mid-2023 and has experienced strong growth this year. According to the data taken from CoinGecko, the stablecoin currently has a market capitalization of approximately $3.9 billion, increasing from $500 million in January. Much of that growth has occurred since September, when PYUSD was integrated with Spark’s lending markets and Bitfinex’s Stable, an institutional-grade stablecoin blockchain.

As mainstream platforms continue to integrate crypto features, YouTube’s decision may mark an early example of how digital assets can be included in everyday payments without requiring users to fully step into the crypto ecosystem.