Instant Global Payments: Gusto and Zerohash Reduce Barriers with Fiat-Based Stablecoins

The Gusto payroll service platform has formed a strategic partnership with Zerohash, an integrated crypto infrastructure provider, to deliver a revolutionary global payment solution. This collaboration aims to address the urgent needs of small and medium-sized businesses that are increasingly hiring international workers. Through stablecoin technology—digital currency whose value is pegged to fiat money—cross-border payments can now be settled within minutes, not days.

By combining Zerohash’s regulated infrastructure, Gusto now offers stablecoin-based payment options to contractors and employees outside the United States. This beta-phase integration enables pay recipients to receive earnings in USD-pegged stablecoins with significantly faster settlement times. This technology reflects a growing trend in the fintech sector, where onchain payment settlements are beginning to replace slow traditional systems.

Overcoming Cross-Border Payment Challenges with Stablecoin

One-third of small businesses in the United States have outsourced at least one job position. Recent data shows that 11% of them plan to hire international contractors by 2025—a figure that continues to rise as the global workforce expands. However, traditional payment systems remain a significant obstacle; cross-border fund transfers take three to seven days to complete.

This delay creates two serious issues: first, contractors face unpredictable cash flow uncertainties; second, employers must deal with administrative complexities and costly transfer fees. Stablecoins offer an elegant solution by leveraging real-time blockchain-based payment channels, enabling funds to move globally at speeds previously thought impossible.

What Is the Difference Between Stablecoin and Traditional Fiat Money?

To understand why stablecoins are important for global payment solutions, it’s essential to grasp the fundamental differences between these two types of currencies. Fiat money is issued by central banks and holds value due to government backing and public trust—examples include the US dollar, euro, or rupiah. Conversely, stablecoins are crypto assets designed to avoid volatility by pegging their value to fiat money or other assets like gold.

The critical difference lies in speed and accessibility. When transactions are conducted with traditional fiat money, they must pass through slow banking networks and regulatory hurdles. Stablecoins pegged to fiat currency, on the other hand, can move instantly on the blockchain without intermediaries. This is why stablecoins like USDT (by Tether) and USDC (by Circle)—the two largest stablecoins in the market—are foundational to the modern crypto economy.

How Zerohash Integration Enhances Gusto’s Payment Speed

Edward Woodford, founder and CEO of Zerohash, stated that this integration demonstrates how traditional payment systems are no longer capable of meeting the needs of an increasingly global and digital workforce. By supporting onchain payments, Gusto provides workers with greater flexibility in choosing how they receive their pay—whether through custodial wallets or self-custody wallets.

All payments are conducted onchain with fully traceable and scalable settlement, supported by regulated entities operating across multiple jurisdictions. This security feature is crucial to ensure that fund flows can be monitored and verified in real-time. Gusto, serving over 400,000 small business employers, now has the capacity to expand its payment reach worldwide at lower costs and unprecedented speed.

Market Opportunity: Why Stablecoin Matters for Global Business

With a stable fiat-backed reserve, stablecoins eliminate the price volatility risks typically associated with traditional cryptocurrencies. This makes them ideal tools for payroll and cross-border commercial payments, where predictability of value is a top priority. More small businesses are recognizing this potential, driving adoption of stablecoins not only among crypto investors but also among traditional companies seeking operational efficiency.

The Gusto-Zerohash collaboration marks a turning point in how companies manage global payments. When blockchain-based technology can deliver payment speeds once considered a dream, while maintaining the stability of fiat currency value, the global fintech landscape is poised for profound transformation.