PayPal Expands PYUSD Stablecoin to 70 Markets, Deepens Digital Payment Access in Africa
Digitnomics 
By Francisca Anuforo,
PayPal has expanded access to its US dollar-backed stablecoin, PayPal USD (PYUSD), to users across 70 global markets, including Africa, marking a significant move in the evolution of blockchain-powered payments and digital commerce.
The expansion positions PYUSD as a faster and lower-cost payment option for consumers and businesses seeking alternatives to traditional cross-border payment systems, which are often characterised by lengthy settlement periods and high transaction costs.
The rollout comes as digital commerce and blockchain-based payment solutions gain momentum globally, particularly in emerging markets where businesses and consumers increasingly demand more efficient ways to move money across borders.
Announcing the expansion, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Crypto at PayPal, May Zabaneh, said the move reflects growing demand for faster and more seamless international transactions.
“Consumers and businesses around the world are looking for faster, more seamless ways to transact globally and the current system still charges too much, takes too long, and settles on timelines designed for a different era,” Zabaneh said.
“We are working to change that. Enabling PYUSD in users’ accounts across 70 markets gives people faster access to their funds, lower-cost ways to send money across borders, and a more direct path to participating in the global economy.”
The expansion significantly broadens access to regulated digital dollar payments, enabling eligible users to buy, hold, send and receive PYUSD directly through their PayPal accounts.
For African markets, PayPal said the initiative is designed to address long-standing challenges associated with cross-border transactions, foreign exchange friction and delayed settlements that continue to affect regional commerce.
Senior Vice President and General Manager for the Middle East and Africa at PayPal, Otto Williams, said the introduction of PYUSD to African users carries practical value for both consumers and businesses.
“Bringing PYUSD to Africa is about delivering tangible value to the people and businesses driving growth in these dynamic markets,” Williams said.
“Consumers gain a flexible, stable way to move funds faster, while businesses can streamline cross-border payments, improve settlement times and unlock new opportunities for growth.”
He noted that broader access to regulated, dollar-backed digital currencies could help reduce transaction friction and improve participation in global trade.
According to PayPal, businesses accepting PYUSD may gain access to settlement proceeds within minutes rather than days or weeks, helping improve liquidity, strengthen working capital management and support cross-border operations.
The company said the expansion builds on the launch of PYUSD in the United States in 2023 and forms part of a broader strategy to establish greater utility, liquidity and global adoption for stablecoin-powered payments.
Industry analysts say the move reflects growing institutional confidence in stablecoins as practical financial infrastructure rather than speculative crypto assets.
Across emerging markets, stablecoins are increasingly being explored for remittances, digital commerce, treasury operations and international settlements due to their relative price stability and lower transfer costs.
PYUSD is issued by Paxos Trust Company and backed by US dollar deposits, Treasury instruments and cash equivalents, maintaining a one-to-one redemption ratio with the US dollar.
PayPal said the stablecoin is now broadly accessible across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North America, reinforcing its ambition to build a more inclusive and digitally connected global commerce ecosystem.
Founded more than 25 years ago, PayPal operates in approximately 200 markets worldwide and continues to expand its digital payments ecosystem through innovations spanning online commerce, financial services and blockchain-enabled transactions.
