Paypal CEO Alex Chriss announced today that PayPal plans to bring PYUSD, PayPal’s Stablecoin, into the Stellar network to provide fast and affordable cross-border payments and reach a large group of developers. According to the company press briefing, they are awaiting approval from the NYDFS.
Paypal plans to upgrade its Stablecoin for real-world payments, commerce, and micro-financing by leveraging the Stellar network speed, low transactional costs, and ease of integration. Stellar has been designed for speed, low-cost payments, and real-world utility. Chris believes the blockchain technology firm will unlock an additional option to the already existing expansion in Ethereum and Solana.
Paypal plans to introduce payment financing (PayFi) for small businesses
Paypal users will benefit from Stellar’s network infrastructure, which spans 170 countries and has multiple on and off ramps, digital wallets, and integration with local fiat currencies and banking systems. According to the company’s press release, this is ideal for PayPal’s goal of reaching a broader group of developers and opening more opportunities. The target audience is the emerging markets where traditional financial systems can be slow, expensive, or inaccessible.
PYUSD is coming to @StellarOrg, reaching a broader group of developers and unlocking new opportunities for the stablecoin. More blockchains, greater access – and we’re not stopping now. pic.twitter.com/DDfpb9JBzM
— Alex Chriss (@acce) June 11, 2025
The partnership will also introduce the Payment Financing model (PayFi), enabling small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that face delayed receivables or prefunding requirements to access real-time working capital in loans directly in PYUSD to their Stellar wallets. Companies can use these funds to settle suppliers, manage inventory, and cover other expenses with the added advantage of instant settlement and transparency. Liquidity providers have been allowed to participate in the financing options and earn returns from real-world activities in addition to speculative trading.
May Zabaneh, Vice President of PayPal’s Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, and Digital Currency Group, said stablecoins have long been viewed as crypto killer apps because they combine the power of blockchain with the stability of fiat currencies. He believes that working with Stellar will advance the use of this technology and provide benefits for all users in the key area of cross-border payments.
NYDFS delay risks giving PYUSD a bad head start
Danelle Dixon, CEO of Stellar Development Foundation, reiterated that Stellar is the network for fast, low-cost, and trusted global payments at scale. He added that bringing PYUSD to over 170 countries would transform stablecoins into practical financial tools that millions of everyday users and merchants can use. He affirmed that the partnership aims to bring stable digital currency to small businesses and individuals in emerging markets all over the globe.
Paypal has recently partnered with Gebuana Lhuillier (Philippines) and Yellow Card (Africa) to bypass banking systems, which have access to 3,500 and 25,000 touchpoints, respectively. Analysts believe these partnerships could push PayPal into a remittance choice by cutting fees up to 80% compared to competitors like Western Union and MoneyGram. PYUSD, however, faces challenges such as a crypto reputation for Scams, hacks, and market crashes, which may deter investor confidence.
The NYDFS approval may delay the process, citing money laundering and consumer protection concerns. Stellar’s decentralized nature lacks the centralized control that banks and regulators prefer. Also, PYUSD holders on the exchange may face price volatility if redemption partners fail to buy back their tokens.
PYUSD faces competition from Circle’s USDC, backed by Goldman Sachs, which already dominates stablecoin markets with $50 billion in circulation. Analysts say that with the pending approval from NYDFS, PYUSD may face a hard head start in competing with giants like USDC and USDT, which already have a competitive edge in the market.
Jim Cramer, host of Mad Money on CNBC, said this is a high-risk, high-reward bet. If the NYFDS approves and SMEs flock to PayFi, PayPal stock could soar, but if it stumbles on regulation or adoption, it would render PYUSD a costly disaster.
