Meta started paying creators in USDC in Colombia and the Philippines, with plans to expand to more than 160 countries, signaling stablecoins’ mainstream disbursement potential.

Creators must link an external crypto wallet and select Solana or Polygon; sending to an incorrect address or incompatible network risks permanent loss.

Meta’s model delivers rapid settlement but leaves users with significant post-settlement friction, due to external wallet and custody considerations.

Although settlement is fast and cross-border transfers are cheap, the real friction appears after settlement, as creators must manage wallets, networks, and custody to access funds.

In contrast to Meta’s user-navigation of crypto layers, the card-network model centralizes complexity, delivering fiat experiences while stablecoins handle settlement.

Regulators are turning attention to the space, with congressional inquiries into Meta’s practices and ongoing cryptocurrency market structure legislation under discussion.

Card-network players are embedding stablecoins like USDC into existing fiat rails, handling fiat conversion and compliance behind the scenes so users largely don’t see crypto mechanics.

The initiative began in early 2026 and targets roughly $3 billion in annual creator payments, signaling a milestone for stablecoins entering mainstream flows.

This rollout marks a notable milestone as Meta expands USDC payments to additional markets, underscoring broader adoption of stablecoins in creator economies.

Industry momentum is evident with trillions in stablecoin volumes in 2025, but off-ramp scalability remains a bottleneck for integrating with fiat systems.

This approach hinges on seamless off-ramp integration with fiat systems—wallets, card networks, and merchant terminals—so end users can spend with fiat-like experience without noticing blockchain.

After receiving USDC, creators must move it to local currency through exchanges, identity checks, and fiat withdrawals, a process that introduces cost and delay.