How Youtube’s Stablecoin Payouts Could Change Creator Monetization

YouTube has added an opt-in option allowing eligible US creators to receive payouts in PayPal’s dollar-backed stablecoin, PYUSD.

YouTube isn’t changing how creators earn — only how they get paid.

The stablecoin payout runs through PayPal’s existing payout infrastructure, with PayPal converting dollars into PYUSD.

The feature positions PYUSD as a digital dollar for settlement and fund transfers.

Creators may gain faster access and alternative treasury options, but they must also consider fees and the complexity of tax reporting.

In mid-December 2025, YouTube added a new option to its monetization toolkit: Eligible US creators can now choose to receive payouts in PayPal’s US dollar stablecoin, PayPal USD (PYUSD).

The update, reported by Fortune, does not change how creators earn money on YouTube, but it does change how that money can reach them.

For creators, creator-economy operators and fintech observers, the move matters less as a crypto headline and more as a signal. It shows how stablecoins are starting to appear inside mainstream payout systems, not as investment products, but as an alternative rail for moving dollars.

YouTube’s monetization model is unchanged. Creators still earn revenue from ads, channel memberships, Super Chats, Super Thanks and other features, all calculated and reported in US dollars. The difference comes at the payout stage.

Previously, creators could receive earnings through traditional bank transfers or PayPal balances in fiat currency. Now, eligible US creators can opt in to receive those same earnings in PYUSD instead of a direct dollar payout. Importantly, this is optional: Creators must actively choose the stablecoin option, and they can continue using standard payout methods if they prefer.

Source: CoinTelegraph