PayPal Rolls Out Crypto Checkout for U.S. Businesses, Promising 90% Cut in Cross-Border Fees

PayPal has unveiled a major expansion of its crypto capabilities with a new feature that allows small and medium-sized U.S. businesses to accept cryptocurrency payments, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), XRP, and Solana (SOL). Dubbed "Pay with Crypto," the solution is expected to go live in the coming weeks and promises to slash cross-border payment fees by up to 90%.

The San Jose-based fintech giant is targeting two persistent challenges in international commerce: high transaction costs and complex payment infrastructures. Through PayPal’s platform, businesses will now be able to accept over 100 digital assets at checkout via integration with leading wallets such as Coinbase, OKX, Binance, Kraken, Phantom, and MetaMask.

Under the hood, cryptocurrencies used by customers will first be converted into PayPal’s proprietary stablecoin, PYUSD, and then into U.S. dollars before being credited to the merchant—ensuring near-instant settlement and fiat compatibility.

"Businesses of all sizes face incredible pressure when growing globally, from increased costs for accepting international payments to complex integrations," said PayPal CEO Alex Chriss. "Today, we’re removing these barriers and helping every business of every size achieve their goals."

During the feature’s introductory year, transaction fees will be set at 0.99%, rising to 1.5% thereafter. Even at that rate, the company claims it represents a fraction of the fees charged by traditional international credit card processors.

Chriss illustrated the platform’s potential reach with a simple example: "Imagine a shopper in Guatemala buying a special gift from a merchant in Oklahoma City. Using PayPal’s open platform, the business can accept crypto, increase profit margins, lower fees, and access funds instantly—earning 4% yield when stored as PYUSD."

The launch of this crypto checkout functionality builds on PayPal’s growing crypto ambitions. Since late 2020, users have been able to buy, sell, and hold select cryptocurrencies. In 2023, PayPal introduced PYUSD, a USD-backed stablecoin that has since reached a market cap of nearly $894 million, placing it among the top 15 stablecoins globally.

This latest move positions PayPal at the forefront of fintech firms embracing blockchain innovation for real-world applications. By streamlining crypto payments and reducing global transaction costs, PayPal is not just expanding its services—it's helping redefine the infrastructure of global commerce.