Home Blog Page 740

PayPal Expands PYUSD Stablecoin To 68 New Countries

info@uweb3.io
-
0
PayPal Expands PYUSD Stablecoin To 68 New Countries

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

PayPal has expanded access to its stablecoin PayPal USD (PYUSD) to 70 markets, allowing users worldwide to send, hold, and receive the token while enabling faster, lower-cost global transactions.

PayPal Expands PYUSD Across 70 Markets

On Tuesday, payments giant PayPal announced that its USD-pegged stablecoin, PYUSD, will be available to users in 70 markets worldwide following its expansion into 68 new countries this month.

The fintech launched the stablecoin in August 2023 after initially pausing development due to scrutiny of PayPal’s issuance partner, Paxos. That same year, PayPal received a subpoena from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) related to its stablecoin.

As crypto regulation gained momentum and financial watchdogs loosened their grip under the Trump Administration, the Commission concluded its 16-month investigation into PYUSD without enforcement action in February 2025. Since then, PYUSD’s total market capitalization has reached $4.1 billion, a fivefold increase over the past year.

Previously, only customers in the US and the UK had access to the PYUSD. However, the latest expansion has made PYUSD available to users across multiple global regions, including Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America.

This includes Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Meanwhile, users in the remaining markets will have access to PYUSD in the coming weeks.

Users in the newly supported regions will be able to hold, send, and receive the stablecoin directly on their PayPal accounts, enabling faster settlement and lower cost than traditional payment methods.

Users will also be eligible to earn rewards on their stablecoin holdings, but rewards won’t be available to users in Singapore or the United Kingdom, the official announcement noted. Existing holders in the United States receive an annual 4% reward.

PayPal Eyes ‘More Inclusive, Global Commerce Ecosystem’

The payments giant affirmed that this geographical expansion marks a critical step in its stablecoin push to build “the liquidity, utility, and ubiquity of PYUSD necessary to create a more inclusive, global commerce ecosystem.”

While consumers and businesses worldwide are seeking faster, more seamless global transactions, the current system still incurs excessive charges and adheres to outdated timelines, May Zabaneh, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Crypto at PayPal, noted, adding that the company is working to change that.

“Enabling PYUSD in users’ accounts across 70 markets gives people faster access to their funds, lower-cost ways to send money across borders, and a more direct path to participating in the global economy, and that is what drives commerce forward for everyone,” she affirmed in the official announcement.

“Now you’re really opening up not only access—especially in places where they need it most— but also cross-border transfers and volume, where the pain is felt so high,” Zabaneh also told Fortune.

The stablecoin was initially launched on Ethereum and later expanded to other networks, including Tron, Avalanche, Aptos, and Sei, through LayerZero in September. In addition, YouTube added a new payout option last December that allows US creators to receive earnings in PYUSD.

paypal, total, total crypto market

The total crypto market capitalization is at $2.52 trillion in the one-week chart. Source: TOTAL on TradingView

Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

More Australians Pay With Crypto But Bank Restrictions Grow

info@uweb3.io
-
0
More Australians Pay With Crypto But Bank Restrictions Grow

More Australians reported using cryptocurrency to pay for goods and services in 2026 compared to the year before, but banking friction has continued to weigh on crypto users, according to a new report by crypto exchange Independent Reserve.

The annual survey of 2,000 “everyday Australians” was conducted between Jan. 12 and Jan. 30.

It found that the share of Australians using crypto to buy goods or pay for services doubled from 6% to 12%, with the report suggesting “more Aussies are viewing crypto as a practical payment method rather than just a speculative bet.”

Among the respondents who used crypto for goods and services, 21% reported using crypto for online shopping, making it the leading real-world use case.

Another 16% said they used crypto to pay for services such as freelancing and video game purchases.

Despite growing adoption, barriers remain, with some citing a lack of education and training and the technology being too complex to use.

Online shopping was the main use case for crypto among survey respondents. Source: Independent Reserve

Banking issues on the rise 

Beyond complexity, banking blocks were highlighted as a significant obstacle. A Binance survey last year found that users faced banking barriers when engaging with exchanges and crypto businesses — a problem the Independent Reserve’s survey respondents also flagged. 

Around 30% of investors said they have experienced delays or rejections when trying to buy cryptocurrency or transfer funds to a crypto exchange at least once, compared with 19.3% in 2025.

Banking restrictions on crypto transactions in Australia tightened around 2023, when major banks, including Commonwealth Bank and National Australia Bank, introduced measures such as payment delays, caps on transfers to crypto exchanges and additional identity checks.

Younger investors reported more trouble with transaction delays than their older counterparts, and those making smaller transactions reported greater interference.

Younger users reported higher instances of banking interference when trying to buy crypto. Source: Independent Reserve

“For many Australians, the lack of regulation hits home when a payment to a crypto exchange is delayed or blocked, an issue that has continued to rise for another year,” the report authors said.

“These interruptions affect both consumers and businesses, showing how cautious banks are with crypto when the rules aren’t clear.”

Clear licensing and regulation are the solution

The report said the findings suggest that banks have not relaxed their posture toward crypto and may be refining their approach by focusing on user behavior and transaction patterns instead of transaction size, underscoring the growing need for regulatory clarity.

Related: Crypto lobby slams Australian broadcaster’s ‘sensational’ Bitcoin article

“Clear licensing and regulation can help fix this. By setting high standards for crypto operators, banks would have more confidence that transactions are legitimate,” they added.

“For Australia’s blockchain industry, which has faced banking hurdles for over a decade, effective regulation could finally bridge the gap between exchanges and banks, giving investors and businesses more certainty and reliability.”

Crypto executives told Cointelegraph last month that Australia’s crypto market is making progress in user growth and regulatory reforms, but there are still a range of issues to iron out.

Magazine: Clarity Act risks repeat of Europe’s mistakes, crypto lawyer warns