YouTube has introduced a new payout option that allows U.S.-based content creators to receive earnings in PayPal’s dollar-backed stablecoin PYUSD, expanding crypto-based payment rails into one of the world’s largest creator platforms.
The update was confirmed by PayPal’s Head of Crypto, May Zabaneh, who told Fortune that the feature is now live and currently limited to creators in the United States. A Google spokesperson also confirmed that PYUSD payouts are supported, though no additional details were disclosed.
PayPal Handles Crypto Infrastructure, Not YouTube
Under the new setup, YouTube will not directly manage crypto transactions. Instead, PayPal processes the payouts using its existing mass payout infrastructure, which YouTube already relies on to pay creators, contractors, and gig workers.
Creators has now option to receive their earnings in PYUSD instead of traditional cash payouts, giving them exposure to a blockchain-based, dollar-pegged asset without leaving the PayPal ecosystem.
How the Feature Was Rolled Out
Earlier in the third quarter, PayPal introduced an option allowing payment recipients to receive funds in PYUSD rather than fiat balances. YouTube subsequently extended that option to creators who earn revenue from ads and subscriptions on the platform.
The move aligns with PayPal’s broader strategy to integrate its stablecoin across consumer and enterprise products.
PYUSD Expands Across PayPal and Google Ecosystems
PayPal has steadily expanded PYUSD usage across its services, including Venmo, merchant payments, vendor payouts, and peer-to-peer crypto transfers. In July, the company launched “Pay with Crypto,” enabling merchants to accept payments in over 100 cryptocurrencies with automatic conversion to fiat or stablecoins.
In September, PayPal also enabled crypto transfers to external wallets, allowing users to send Bitcoin, Ethereum, and PYUSD via shareable links. Google Cloud has previously accepted PYUSD as a payment method as well.
PYUSD Market Position Continues to Grow
PYUSD has since grown into the sixth-largest stablecoin globally, with a market capitalization of approximately $3.9 billion. Its circulating supply exceeds $1 billion, surpassing newer entrants such as the World Liberty Finance stablecoin, USD1.
By enabling stablecoin payouts on YouTube, PayPal further positions PYUSD as a practical settlement asset for mainstream digital platforms — not just crypto-native users.
