CoinDesk Podcast Network PayPal Goes Global with 70 New Crypto Markets
Mar 17, 2026
May Zabaneh, PayPal’s SVP and GM of Crypto, leads the company’s PYUSD stablecoin expansion. She explains why PayPal launched PYUSD in 70 markets and how it eases cross-border payments. Conversation covers remittance use cases, competing via network and trust, stablecoins in emerging economies, and the role of programmable money in an AI-driven commerce future.
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Targeting Markets With Real Remittance Pain
- PayPal picked 70 markets where its wallet exists and where cross-border costs and remittance volumes create product-market fit for PYUSD.
- The rollout targets regions with expensive cross-border fees and high remittance activity to deliver instant settlement and cost savings.
Sending Remittances Straight To A PayPal Wallet
- May gave a concrete remittance example sending money from someone abroad to family in Colombia directly into a PayPal wallet using PYUSD.
- Recipient gets instant access, no fees, can hold funds and earn a cited 4% reward before spending.
Compete With Trust And Network Not Just Price
- Emphasize choice, trust, and network effects when entering markets dominated by incumbents.
- Leverage PayPal's brand, wallet connectivity, and payments experience to compete rather than purely undercutting fees.