PayPal to Expand PYUSD Use for Payments by 2025
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Key Takeaways
PayPal plans to expand the integration of its stablecoin PYUSD in 2025. The goal is to compete with established stablecoins Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC). Despite the expansion, PYUSD’s adoption remains below expectations.
PayPal’s Strategy for PYUSD
PayPal is increasingly focusing on blockchain technology and digital payments. Michelle Gill, General Manager for Small Business and Financial Services at PayPal, stated in an interview with Bloomberg that cross-border payments are a key focus. Merchants in the U.S. should be able to use PYUSD to pay international suppliers – without currency conversion and long transaction times.
An important step in this direction is the planned integration of PYUSD into PayPal’s Hyperwallet platform. This platform enables global payments for freelancers and contractors. In 2024, the first business transaction using PYUSD was successfully completed.
Expansion of Crypto Integration
By the end of 2025, PayPal aims to enable merchants to process payments via PayPal Checkout directly in digital assets. CEO Alex Chriss emphasizes that blockchain technology will only become relevant when it is usable for everyday payments.
Competition in the Stablecoin Market
The stablecoin market remains highly competitive. Tether (USDT) continues to dominate despite regulatory challenges in Europe. The company is shifting its focus to crypto-friendly regions such as El Salvador.
USD Coin (USDC) has significantly increased its market share due to growing adoption on the Solana blockchain. Additionally, Circle has secured regulatory approvals, including MiCA compliance in the EU and a license in Dubai.
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Ripple is also entering the space: The new stablecoin RLUSD is available on Ethereum and the XRP Ledger, launching with an initial supply of 120 million tokens.
Challenges for PYUSD
Despite PayPal’s expansion plans, PYUSD remains far behind the market leaders. In February 2025, the total transaction volume of stablecoins reached $615 billion. USDT led with $415.61 billion, followed by USDC with $197.37 billion. PYUSD accounted for only $1.24 billion.
PYUSD’s market capitalization also shows a downward trend. After peaking at $1.01 billion in August 2024, it fell below $500 million by December 2024. These figures highlight the challenges PayPal faces in establishing PYUSD as a serious alternative.
Our Assessment
PayPal is pushing for greater integration of PYUSD to gain a foothold in the stablecoin market. However, competition from USDT and USDC remains strong. While PayPal has a robust infrastructure and a broad user base, current figures indicate that PYUSD is still far from a dominant position. The key question is whether PayPal can convince merchants and consumers of the long-term benefits of its stablecoin.