Meta has introduced USDC stablecoin payouts for select creators on its platforms in the Philippines and Colombia, marking the tech giant’s return to the stablecoin market years after abandoning its Libra project. The service allows creators to receive payments directly into crypto wallets on the Solana and Polygon blockchains, with expansion to additional markets planned.
Creators who opt into the new payment method will receive their earnings in Circle’s USDC stablecoin, according to a Wednesday announcement. However, Meta does not provide a built-in conversion feature, requiring users to utilize external exchanges to convert USDC into fiat currency.
The rollout currently serves only select creators in Colombia and the Philippines. Polygon stated on Wednesday that the stablecoin payment option is expected to expand to more than 160 markets soon.
“Live in Colombia and the Philippines, with 160+ markets common, users now get faster settlement with USDC while gaining access to dollar-denominated assets,” Polygon said. “This is how creators’ lives are improved.”
Meta creators include influencers, educators, and entertainers who monetize their content across the company’s platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. Facebook alone paid creators nearly $3 billion in 2025, representing a 35% increase from the previous year, according to company data.
To receive stablecoin payments, creators must connect their third-party crypto wallet to Facebook’s payout platform. Meta noted in its announcement that it “reserves the right to pay” using an alternate payment method in the “event of technical difficulties or unforeseen circumstances.”
The initiative comes as stablecoins continue to gain traction as a primary use case for cryptocurrency. Lamine Brahimi, co-founder and managing partner at crypto custody provider Taurus, told Cointelegraph earlier this month that financial institutions across Europe are actively selecting infrastructure partners to support stablecoin adoption.
Circle’s USDC currently ranks as the second-largest stablecoin by market capitalization with over $77.3 billion as of Thursday, according to decentralized finance analytics platform DefiLlama. Tether’s USDt (USDT) maintains its position as market leader with a market cap of $189.4 billion.
Meta’s stablecoin initiative represents a significant shift from its previous attempt to enter the digital currency space. The company first explored stablecoins through the Libra project in 2019, but scrapped those plans in 2022 following intense regulatory pushback.
The Diem project, as it was later renamed, faced opposition over privacy and antitrust concerns. Central banks and lawmakers raised objections about financial stability, consumer protections, and the absence of a clear regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies at the time.
In a January 2022 statement, the Diem project acknowledged that it was “clear from our dialogue with federal regulators that the project could not move ahead.” All project assets were subsequently sold to Silvergate Capital Corporation.
The new USDC payout system differs significantly from the abandoned Diem project. Rather than creating its own stablecoin, Meta is leveraging an existing, regulated stablecoin issued by Circle. This approach may help the company avoid some of the regulatory concerns that doomed its previous stablecoin venture.
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The decision to launch in the Philippines and Colombia first appears strategic. Both countries have significant cryptocurrency adoption rates and large creator communities. The Philippines, in particular, has emerged as a major market for play-to-earn gaming and cryptocurrency usage.
By offering stablecoin payouts, Meta provides creators in these markets with access to US dollar-denominated assets, potentially protecting their earnings from local currency volatility. The faster settlement times compared to traditional payment methods could also prove attractive to creators seeking quicker access to their funds.
The expansion to more than 160 additional markets would make Meta one of the largest facilitators of stablecoin adoption globally, potentially introducing millions of creators to cryptocurrency wallets and digital assets for the first time.
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