YouTube adds PayPal’s PYUSD as creator payout option

YouTube has taken a subtle step that could reshape the way creators manage their income.

YouTube will now let U.S. creators receive payouts in PayPal’s PYUSD stablecoin, marking one of the clearest steps Big Tech has taken toward crypto-linked earnings.

The update was shared in a Dec. 12 Fortune report, which cited PayPal’s head of crypto, May Zabaneh, saying the feature is already live for eligible users.

How PYUSD payments are being rolled out

The feature works through PayPal’s payout system rather than YouTube touching crypto directly. Creators who already use PayPal for earnings can open YouTube Studio, select PYUSD inside the payout settings and have their ad revenue, memberships and Super Chat income settled in the stablecoin.

Transfers clear inside PayPal’s network, giving creators near-instant access to funds they can hold, spend or convert back to dollars.

PYUSD itself launched in August 2023 through Paxos and is backed one-to-one with dollar reserves. Its market cap sits near $3.9 billion, making it the sixth largest stablecoin in circulation.

PayPal has tied a growing list of features to the token, including cross-border transfers, merchant payments and a yield reward inside PayPal and Venmo. A permissionless version of the token, called PYUSD0, also went live in September across several chains to support bridge-free movement.

Practical benefits for creators

For creators, the new payout option offers practical advantages. Bank transfers often take days to land, and international users can face additional fees.

PYUSD payouts move faster and avoid the volatility that comes with most crypto assets, while still keeping the door open for creators who want to use stablecoins inside decentralized finance markets. The update also fits into a broader push among creators who want more flexible settlement options, especially those who work with agencies or partners across multiple countries.

The timing lines up with broader activity in the U.S. market. On Dec. 10, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency cleared major banks to facilitate regulated crypto dealings, including liquidity for PYUSD.

PayPal also launched stablecoin payouts for merchants earlier in the year, laying the groundwork for wider integrations without requiring companies to build their own crypto systems. YouTube has not said when the feature will expand outside the U.S., but the move shows how mainstream platforms are testing stablecoins as a neutral payment layer.