PayPal Expands PYUSD Stablecoin Access Across 70 Markets, Including Africa, To Boost Cross-Border Payments

PayPal has expanded its U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, PYUSD, to 70 global markets, including several African countries, in a move aimed at improving cross-border payments and strengthening digital financial infrastructure for individuals and businesses.
The expansion allows eligible users in newly supported regions to buy, hold, send and receive PYUSD directly within their PayPal accounts, marking one of the company’s largest international cryptocurrency rollouts since the stablecoin’s launch in the United States in 2023.
The fintech giant said the initiative is designed to address long-standing inefficiencies in global payment systems, particularly high transaction costs and slow settlement times that continue to affect cross-border commerce, especially in emerging markets.
Brandspur Brand News reports that the rollout reflects growing competition among global payment providers to offer faster, more efficient blockchain-based alternatives to traditional banking rails.
With the latest update, users in supported markets can also transfer PYUSD to other digital wallets, convert it into local currencies for withdrawals, and use it for everyday transactions. PayPal also confirmed that users may earn rewards on PYUSD balances held within their accounts.
For businesses, the company said PYUSD will improve liquidity management by enabling faster settlement of payments compared to conventional systems. Merchants are also expected to benefit from lower foreign exchange costs, quicker access to funds and improved efficiency in international transactions.
PayPal noted that cross-border payment challenges remain a major constraint for global commerce, particularly in regions where access to reliable financial infrastructure is still developing. The company said the stablecoin expansion is part of a broader strategy to enhance financial inclusion and support digital trade growth.
The rollout spans multiple regions including Africa, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and North America, positioning PYUSD as a more widely accessible digital asset within regulated markets.
Industry analysts say the expansion could accelerate stablecoin adoption in emerging economies, where businesses and consumers continue to seek faster, cheaper and more stable alternatives to traditional cross-border payment systems and volatile local currencies.
The move further strengthens PayPal’s position in the global digital payments ecosystem as major fintech firms increase investment in blockchain-enabled financial products aimed at reshaping international money transfers and digital commerce.