Meta to pay creators in USDC, highlighting stablecoin off-ramp frictions

Meta plans to begin paying creators in USDC across Colombia and the Philippines, with expansion to more than 160 countries expected by the end of the year. According to CoinDesk, the move signals stablecoins’ growing role in mainstream payouts but leaves creators to handle wallets, network selection such as Solana or Polygon, and conversion from USDC into local currency via exchanges and domestic banking rails. The column contrasts Meta’s approach with card networks embedding stablecoins behind the scenes, citing Mastercard’s $1.8 billion acquisition of BVNK and Visa’s partnership with Bridge, as stablecoin volumes hit $33 trillion in 2025, up 72%.