PayPal Launches PYUSD Stablecoin Services Across Africa and 69 Other Markets

PayPal has expanded access to its U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, PYUSD, across 70 global markets, including countries in Africa, as the digital payments giant intensifies efforts to strengthen cross-border commerce and blockchain-based payment infrastructure.

The company announced that eligible users in the newly supported markets can now buy, hold, send and receive PYUSD directly through their PayPal accounts.

The expansion marks one of the company’s largest global cryptocurrency rollouts since launching the stablecoin in the United States in 2023.

PayPal said the initiative is designed to improve international payments by reducing transaction costs, accelerating settlement times and increasing access to digital financial services for individuals and businesses.

Management noted that the traditional cross-border payment system remains expensive and slow for many consumers and enterprises, particularly in emerging markets where access to global financial infrastructure is often limited.

The company stated that PYUSD would help provide faster movement of funds while enabling users to access a regulated digital asset backed by the U.S. dollar.

Under the rollout, users in supported countries will also be able to transfer PYUSD to friends and family, move funds to compatible third-party digital wallets and convert holdings into local currencies for withdrawals and everyday transactions.

Eligible users may also earn rewards on PYUSD balances held within their accounts.

PayPal said businesses accepting PYUSD payments could gain faster access to funds compared to traditional settlement systems, improving liquidity management and supporting international operations.

The company added that merchants would benefit from shorter settlement cycles, lower foreign payment costs and improved access to working capital.

According to PayPal, the expansion forms part of a broader strategy to increase the utility and global adoption of PYUSD as digital commerce continues to evolve.

The stablecoin is now available across multiple regions including Africa, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and North America.

Company executives said the African rollout is particularly significant due to the continent’s growing digital economy and increasing demand for faster cross-border transactions.

Industry analysts believe the expansion could accelerate stablecoin adoption within emerging markets where businesses and consumers continue to seek alternatives to costly international payment systems and volatile local currencies.

The move also places PayPal among major financial technology firms expanding regulated digital asset services amid rising global interest in blockchain-powered payment solutions.