TLDR
- Meta is offering USDC stablecoin payouts to selected creators in Colombia and the Philippines.
- The payout option uses Solana and Polygon, two blockchain networks used for low-cost transfers.
- Creators must add a third-party crypto wallet address to receive USDC through Facebook’s payout platform.
- Meta will not provide services to convert USDC stablecoin payouts into local currencies.
- Stripe is supporting Meta’s rollout through crypto-specific tax reporting for stablecoin payouts.
Meta has started offering stablecoin payouts to selected creators in Colombia and the Philippines, marking the company’s return to digital currency payments years after ending its Libra and Diem project.
According to reports, the new payout option uses Circle’s USDC stablecoin on the Solana and Polygon blockchains. Creators who choose the option must enter a third-party crypto wallet address through Facebook’s payout platform.
Meta will not provide conversion services from USDC into local currencies. The company has also partnered with Stripe for certain crypto-related tax reporting tied to the payout process.
Meta Tests Stablecoin Payouts for Creators
Meta said it is exploring stablecoins as part of its broader payment options for creators. The rollout is currently limited to select markets, with Colombia and the Philippines among the early locations.
The structure allows Meta to use existing blockchain networks and a regulated dollar-backed stablecoin rather than issuing its own token. That marks a different approach from Libra, later renamed Diem, which was abandoned in 2022 after regulatory and political opposition.
The use of Solana and Polygon gives Meta access to low-cost blockchain settlement. Both networks are commonly used for stablecoin transfers and payment-related applications.
For creators, stablecoin payouts may reduce delays associated with international bank transfers. However, users remain responsible for managing their own wallets and converting USDC if they need local currency.
Stripe Role Supports Payment Infrastructure
Stripe is involved in crypto-specific tax reporting for Meta’s stablecoin payout program. The payment company has expanded its own stablecoin infrastructure after acquiring Bridge, a platform focused on stablecoin settlement.
Meta’s approach appears to rely on third-party infrastructure rather than building a proprietary financial network. This model may reduce regulatory pressure by keeping issuance, custody, and conversion outside Meta’s direct control.
Stablecoin payouts could be useful for smaller creator payments in emerging markets, where wire fees, currency conversion costs, and banking delays can reduce the final amount received.
Traditional international payouts can take several business days and include foreign exchange costs. USDC transfers can settle faster, though users may still face wallet, exchange, and local cash-out costs.
Stablecoin Adoption Expands Across Big Tech
Meta’s rollout comes as more major companies test stablecoins for payments. Shopify has enabled merchants to accept USDC, Western Union has announced plans for a Solana-based stablecoin, and DoorDash has explored stablecoin payouts for drivers through payment infrastructure partners.
The 2025 passage of the GENIUS Act created a federal framework for dollar-backed stablecoins in the United States. That has given large companies more clarity for integrating stablecoins into payment systems.
Meta is also preparing to report earnings as investors focus on advertising growth, artificial intelligence spending, and workforce reductions. The company has continued investing heavily in AI infrastructure while cutting jobs across several business units.
The stablecoin payout test gives Meta another way to improve payment options for creators without reviving its earlier plan to issue a digital currency. For now, the program remains limited, but it signals that stablecoins are becoming part of mainstream platform payment systems.
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