PayPal Stablecoin PYUSD Expands to 70 Countries in Latin America and Asia-Pacific, Simultaneously Opens Retail Token Holding Yield Earning

Payment giant PayPal announced on March 17 that its US-regulated stablecoin, PayPal USD (PYUSD), is officially expanding into 70 markets worldwide. Through this major expansion, millions of consumers and merchants will be able to use PYUSD directly within their PayPal accounts for low-cost, efficient cross-border payments globally. Eligible users can even earn rewards for holding stablecoins.

(Background: The Economic Times reports that PayPal has not entered acquisition talks with Stripe due to “structural challenges,” causing PYPL stock to surge then sharply decline.)

(Additional context: PayPal invests $200 million to enter AI-powered shopping, but crypto payments remain an “outsider.”)

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• Say goodbye to expensive fees, retail holders also earn “interest rewards”
• Revolutionizing B2B settlements: from days to “minutes”
• “Existing systems are designed for a bygone era”

The integration of traditional payment systems with Web3 infrastructure is accelerating rapidly. On March 17, global payments giant PayPal announced that its USD stablecoin, PYUSD, will expand support from a few countries to 70 markets worldwide.

This move marks a significant milestone in PYUSD’s global strategy and demonstrates PayPal’s ambition to leverage blockchain technology to disrupt traditional cross-border remittances and B2B settlement markets.

Say goodbye to expensive fees, retail holders also earn “interest rewards”

According to an official announcement, in the newly supported markets, users can now buy, hold, send, and receive PYUSD directly through their PayPal accounts. This means that international remittances, which previously involved high fees and exchange spreads, can now be completed instantly at very low cost between friends and third-party digital wallets.

Even more attractive, PayPal announced that “eligible users” will receive holding rewards for PYUSD. Users can view stablecoins as a hedge against inflation or a safe haven for funds, and earn steady passive income by holding PYUSD. When needed for daily expenses, they can seamlessly convert to local fiat currency (fees may apply upon withdrawal).

Revolutionizing B2B settlements: from days to “minutes”

Beyond convenience for consumers, this expansion has a profound impact on cross-border e-commerce and enterprise users.

In traditional B2B payment systems, cross-border settlements often take days or weeks, putting significant pressure on corporate cash flow. PayPal emphasizes that businesses accepting PYUSD can now reduce settlement times from several days to just “a few minutes.” This not only cuts foreign exchange costs but also allows companies to access funds instantly, optimizing working capital management.

“Existing systems are designed for a bygone era”

The PYUSD expansion covers regions including Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America. The first confirmed new countries include Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Peru, Singapore (currently limited to business accounts), and the UK. Users in other markets will gain access gradually over the coming weeks.

May Zabaneh, Senior Vice President and General Manager of PayPal’s Cryptocurrency division, bluntly pointed out the pain points of traditional finance: “Consumers and businesses worldwide are seeking faster, seamless cross-border transactions, but current systems charge too much and take too long. Their settlement schedules are simply designed for a bygone era.”

Zabaneh added, “We are working to change that. Enabling PYUSD in 70 markets allows people to send cross-border funds at lower costs and provides a more direct way to participate in the global economy. That’s the true driver of business progress.”