Stripe logo on phone screen. Source: sdx15 - stock.adobe.com

Key Takeaways:

Remote and Stripe now enable U.S.-based companies to pay contractors in 69 countries using USDC, Circle’s dollar-pegged stablecoin.
Payments settle almost instantly via Coinbase’s Base blockchain, offering stability and speed for contractors facing volatile local currencies.
Stripe’s return to crypto payments highlights rising demand for flexible, cross-border payment solutions amid global hiring trends.

Remote, a global payroll provider, has launched a new service allowing U.S.-based companies to pay contractors in 69 countries using USD Coin (USDC), a dollar-pegged stablecoin.

This initiative, developed in collaboration with payment provider Stripe, aims to streamline international payments and meet rising demand for flexible, fast, and stable payment solutions in the globalized post-pandemic workforce.

Pay your contractors in stablecoins through Remote. 🚀

We’re thrilled to collaborate with @stripe to bring your business easy, secure, and near-instant payments globally. 🌍

Learn more here 👉 https://t.co/Gh0p8nC1BN pic.twitter.com/OkOa1kt4mh
— Remote (@remote) December 17, 2024

Contractors will receive USDC payments through a wallet address on Base, Coinbase’s layer-2 blockchain network, while employers settle payments in U.S. dollars.

USDC offers contractors a hedge against local currency volatility, particularly in countries facing inflation or economic instability, enabling them to store value in U.S. dollars.

Payments facilitated by Stripe settle nearly instantly, avoiding delays from traditional banking processes and foreign exchange fees.

Stripe’s partnership with Remote marks its renewed focus on crypto payments after re-entering the market in 2024, following a six-year hiatus.

Initially adopting Bitcoin in 2014, Stripe ceased crypto services in 2018 but returned by supporting USDC payments through Coinbase’s Base in October 2024.

Remote’s CEO, Job van der Voort, highlighted the feature as a response to customer demand, emphasizing compliance, simplicity, and flexibility for contractors.

The initiative reflects both Stripe’s evolving crypto strategy and Remote’s commitment to supporting a modern global workforce.