YouTube has rolled out a new payment option that allows U.S.-based creators to receive their earnings in PayPal’s stablecoin, PYUSD, marking one of the most significant steps yet by a Big Tech platform toward mainstream crypto payouts. PayPal’s head of crypto, May Zabaneh, confirmed the launch, noting the feature is already live for eligible creators.
A Google spokesperson also confirmed that PYUSD payouts have been added to YouTube’s existing PayPal-powered payment infrastructure, though the company declined to give additional details.
YouTube already uses PayPal’s enterprise payout system to pay creators, gig workers, and contractors globally. After PayPal upgraded its system earlier in the third quarter to allow recipients to accept payments directly in PYUSD, YouTube opted to integrate the stablecoin as an optional payout method for creator earnings.
Zabaneh emphasized that YouTube does not need to handle crypto directly, as PayPal’s backend infrastructure abstracts the complexity while allowing creators to interact with PYUSD seamlessly.
The move reflects a growing trend among Big Tech companies exploring stablecoins. Tech giants including Google have become increasingly active in the space following a surge in industry momentum and the passage of new U.S. regulations governing digital assets. Recently, Google Cloud confirmed it received payments from clients using PYUSD, further signaling institutional uptake.
PYUSD, a U.S. dollar–backed stablecoin launched by PayPal in 2023, has seen rapid adoption. Its market capitalization has climbed to approximately $3.8 billion, according to CoinGecko, driven by integrations across PayPal’s ecosystem: PayPal Wallet, Venmo, and merchant payment tools.
PayPal, an early mover in crypto since enabling Bitcoin and Ethereum purchases in 2020, has signaled plans to expand PYUSD use cases, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses seeking faster, low-cost settlement.
YouTube’s integration represents one of the largest creator economy platforms to adopt a stablecoin payout option, a development that could accelerate the mainstreaming of digital-asset payments among millions of online creators.
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