Gusto partners with Zerohash to speed global payroll using stablecoins
HR and payroll platform Gusto has partnered with crypto custody and settlement firm Zerohash to pilot using USDC stablecoins for faster cross-border employee payouts. The collaboration aims to reduce settlement times and fees compared with traditional banking rails, enabling near-instant conversion and transfers in select corridors. Zerohash will provide custody, on/off ramp liquidity and settlement infrastructure; Gusto will integrate stablecoin payouts into its global payroll workflow for eligible employers and employees. The pilot targets remittance corridors where local banking is slow or costly and will initially focus on regulatory-compliant USDC settlements. Both firms emphasize compliance and AML controls. This move reflects broader industry trends where businesses use stablecoins to lower transaction costs and speed international payroll and payouts.
Bullish
Using stablecoins like USDC for payroll reduces settlement time and fees, improving on-chain utility and real-world use cases. For traders, this signals increased institutional adoption and transactional demand for stablecoins and on/off-ramp services, potentially supporting stablecoin liquidity and related service tokens. Historically, announcements of enterprise partnerships and expanded real-world payments use (e.g., corporate treasury or payment pilots) have had modestly positive effects on stablecoin volumes and on platforms facilitating settlement. Short-term impact: limited price moves for major crypto assets but higher stablecoin transaction volumes and demand for settlement rails. Long-term impact: incremental bullish signal for the payments layer of crypto infrastructure, endorsing utility and merchant adoption which can support broader market confidence over time. Risks include regulatory scrutiny of stablecoin payouts and execution risks in rollout, which could temper upside if concerns arise.