YouTube offers a new era of payment methods for US creators! Improved convenience with the use of stablecoins.

1. YouTube Quietly Lifts Ban on "Stablecoin Payments"

Reported on December 11, 2025 (U.S. time), YouTube has added an option for eligible creators in the U.S. to receive earnings in PayPal's dollar-pegged stablecoin "PYUSD." The key point is that even though it sounds like a "crypto salary," YouTube itself is designed not to handle cryptocurrencies directly. crypto.news

The source of the rewards is expected to be not only ad revenue but also the entire YouTube revenue menu, including memberships and Super Chat. For now, it is limited to the U.S. and implemented as an "additional means of receiving" that eligible users can select in their settings. crypto.news

2. The Mechanism: "YouTube = Dollar Payment," "PayPal = Backend PYUSD Conversion"

What's interesting about this integration is how the product boundaries are drawn. According to various reports, YouTube continues to use U.S. dollars (fiat currency) on PayPal's payment rails, and PayPal converts it to PYUSD on the backend, reflecting it in the creator's PayPal wallet. In other words, it leans the on-chain benefits (immediacy and ease of transfer) towards the "receiving side" while minimizing the operational burden and regulatory compliance on the platform side. FinanceFeeds

This structure naturally extends from YouTube's existing use of PayPal's "Mass Payout" system. Google's help documentation also specifies that PayPal's Hyperwallet is used for AdSense/AdSense for YouTube payments, indicating that an existing remittance infrastructure serves as the foundation. Google Help

3. What Exactly is PYUSD?

PYUSD is a dollar-pegged stablecoin offered by PayPal, described by PayPal as being backed by "U.S. dollar deposits, U.S. Treasuries, and equivalent cash assets." Issuance and custody are handled by Paxos. On PayPal, it can be bought, held, and sent as "1PYUSD = 1USD" in principle, and under certain conditions, rewards (annual rate) for holding may also be offered. PayPal

The important point here is that stablecoins are tools aimed at "digital dollar transfers" rather than assets to enjoy price movements like Bitcoin. PayPal itself also emphasizes its use in remittances and payments. PayPal

4. Why Stablecoins for Creator Rewards Now?

Some may be taken aback by "YouTube suddenly going crypto?" but this move is closer to a refresh of payment rails rather than a "flashy crypto asset adoption."

Creator earnings slow down as they cross borders, accumulating fees and exchange costs. In contrast, stablecoins, in theory (and in many practical cases), enable faster transfers and are more operational 24/7. Decrypt has also introduced comments suggesting that big tech is unlikely to adopt anything other than "mature and low-friction payment rails." Decrypt

Furthermore, 2025 has seen reports of progress in federal-level frameworks for stablecoins in the U.S., providing a psychological tailwind (at least that's how market participants perceive it). Decrypt

5. Implications for "Google as a Whole": Experimenting with Cloud Payments

One reason this story is noteworthy is the potential that it won't end as a "YouTube-only initiative." Reports have touched on the context that Google Cloud has previously received payments from customers in PYUSD (at least two companies). While cloud fees and creator rewards are different, if Google has been experimenting with "tokenized dollars" in payment contexts, this YouTube move can be interpreted as a strategy to "test broadly without touching the core." Cryptonews

6. Social Media Reactions: A Mix of Welcome and Skepticism, "Convenient but Troublesome" Issue

So, how did social media react? Broadly speaking, reactions can be divided into three categories: (A) Evaluation of Practical Benefits, (B) Skepticism/Rejection, and (C) Product Perspective of "This is Just the Beginning."

(A) Evaluation of Practical Benefits: "Appeals to Overseas and Freelancers"

On LinkedIn, from a fintech perspective, discussions have focused on themes like "an important change that seems small at first glance" and "suitable for international micro-payouts." One post noted that while it's not dramatic while limited to the U.S., its value will soar if it expands to overseas creators. LinkedIn

Moreover, many see PayPal taking on the "crypto hassle," allowing the platform to increase options without disrupting existing payment operations. Indeed, the core of the integration is repeatedly explained as "YouTube not having to handle cryptocurrencies." FinanceFeeds

(B) Skepticism/Rejection: "Why Bother?" "It's Just Within PayPal"

On the other hand, reflexive rejection was quick on Reddit's r/CryptoCurrency. For example, there are straightforward rejections like "Ew why would anyone do that?" accompanied by sarcastic comments. Reddit

This sentiment is also connected to the reality for creators. For many, the optimal solution is "receive in cash and be done with it," and if tax processing, regulations, or wallet management increase even slightly, "convenience" can easily be outweighed by "trouble." Furthermore, while stablecoins have small price movements, their use often involves KYC and various restrictions, creating a gap between the ideal of "freely usable digital dollars" and the reality of "balance within a service," which can be a source of dissatisfaction.

(C) "This is Just the Beginning" Perspective: "Next, Financial Services for Creators (Creator Wallet)?"

Interestingly, some see this not just as an "addition of a payment method" but as a stepping stone towards "financial services for creators." LinkedIn posts have discussed the possibility of imagining a future with "creator wallets" and combinations of debit cards, prepayments (cash advances), and loans. LinkedIn

If this perspective is correct, PYUSD payments are not the goal but the entry point for "the next monetization" where (1) balances are kept within the platform, and (2) those balances are used to pay, borrow, or grow. Stablecoins are well-suited as "balances that can cross boundaries" for this purpose.

7. Future Points of Interest: Conditions for Expansion and Redistribution of "Who Benefits"

Finally, let's narrow down the future discussion points to three.

1. Will It Expand Beyond the U.S.?
   The greater benefits lie in international remittances. The most important factor will be whether the target countries increase when regulations, regions, and existing payment networks align. crypto.news

2. Can It Move Beyond "Completing Within PayPal"?
   PayPal speaks of PYUSD as "buy, sell, send, pay" in one seamless flow. However, what creators truly want is to be able to use it "freely," including fees and restrictions. If this stalls, it could revert to the skepticism of "it seems convenient, but isn't it just the usual PayPal balance?" PayPal

3. Clarity in Tax, Accounting, and Display
   For stablecoins to become "everyday payment infrastructure," a design is needed where users can use them without thinking about accounting processes. How much YouTube and PayPal can absorb the "trouble" will significantly change the psychological hurdle for recipients.