Key Takeaways

• PYUSD is now available in 70 markets, expanding from its original US and UK footprint.

• Users in newly supported regions can now earn rewards on their stablecoin holdings within the PayPal app.

• The move aims to solve high cross-border fees for users in regions like Latin America, Asia, and Africa.

PayPal is finally taking its digital dollar global. This Tuesday, the payments giant announced that its PYUSD stablecoin is launching in 70 countries—a massive jump from just the US and UK. By hitting 68 new markets across Latin America, Asia, and Europe, PayPal is betting big on PYUSD for international transfers. The idea is simple: let people send money across borders faster and cheaper, without the headache of traditional bank fees.

This is a game-changer for users in places like Peru or Malawi. Usually, pulling money out of PayPal means getting hit with brutal cross-border fees or forced currency conversions. Now, these users can keep their balance in a US-pegged stablecoin, protecting their money from local inflation.

As PayPal’s crypto head May Zabaneh put it, this ‘unlocks a balance-type concept,’ giving everyone the same financial tools regardless of where they live.

Expansion unlocks “balance-type concept” with rewards

The coolest part of this global rollout has to be the ‘earnings’ side of things. If you’re in one of these 70 markets, you don’t just hold PYUSD—you actually earn rewards on it. It basically turns your standard PayPal wallet into a digital savings account for dollars.

Plus, you can move your PYUSD to other digital wallets without any hassle, keeping it part of the bigger Web3 world. It’s a huge shift; PayPal isn’t just for sending money anymore—it’s turning into a full-on digital bank.

PYUSD is issued by Paxos, PayPal distributes

While PayPal is the face of the operation, the technical heavy lifting is handled by Paxos Trust Company, which has been issuing the stablecoin since its inception in August 2023. Since then, PYUSD has experienced a meteoric rise.

After a 600% growth spurt in 2025, the stablecoin currently sits as the seventh-largest in the world with a market capitalization of $4.1 billion. By maintaining a transparent, dollar-pegged reserve through Paxos, PayPal has managed to build a level of trust that many other stablecoin issuers struggle to achieve, making it a “safe haven” for retail users entering the crypto space.

Final Thoughts

PayPal’s global expansion of PYUSD is a watershed moment for stablecoin adoption. By giving millions of people access to a digital dollar and the ability to earn rewards, PayPal is successfully bringing the benefits of blockchain to the mainstream.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which countries can use PYUSD?
PayPal has expanded access to 70 countries, including major markets in Latin America, Europe, and Asia.

Can I earn interest on PYUSD?
Yes, PayPal has introduced a “rewards” concept that allows users to earn on their stablecoin balances.

Who issues the PayPal stablecoin?
PYUSD is issued by Paxos Trust Company in collaboration with PayPal.