Meta Finally Pays Creators in Crypto — Here’s How It Operates

TLDR

• Meta has rolled out USDC stablecoin payouts for content creators based in Colombia and the Philippines
• All payments are processed via Circle’s USDC on either the Solana or Polygon blockchains
• Stripe powers the underlying payments infrastructure and will issue required tax documentation
• Creators need an external crypto exchange to convert USDC to local currency — Meta does not offer any built-in conversion tool
• The rollout is planned to expand to 160+ global markets, and comes after Meta discontinued its failed Diem stablecoin project in 2022

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(SeaPRwire) –   Meta is now paying a subset of its creators in crypto. The company has launched USDC stablecoin payouts to a select group of creators in Colombia and the Philippines, marking its first substantive move into crypto payments since scrapping its Diem project in 2022.

The future of marketplace commerce runs on Polygon.@Meta has rolled out stablecoin payouts for creators on the Polygon Chain.

Live right now in Colombia and the Philippines, with 160+ additional markets coming soon, users now get faster settlement with USDC while gaining access to dollar denominated assets. pic.twitter.com/hjodzNpuyU

— Polygon | POL (@0xPolygon) April 29, 2026

The new feature allows eligible creators to link a third-party crypto wallet to Facebook’s payout platform. They then receive payments in Circle’s USDC stablecoin, which are settled on either the Solana or Polygon blockchain networks.

Global payments firm Stripe manages the backend infrastructure for this service. Stripe confirmed its involvement, with Jay Shah, head of Link at Stripe, stating: “We’re already partnering with Meta so their creators can receive stablecoins in their Link wallets in countries like the Philippines and Colombia.”

Creators who use this service will receive tax documents from both Meta and Stripe. These documents cover all of their earnings and any digital asset transactions linked to the payouts.

One key detail creators should note: Meta does not offer a built-in tool to convert USDC into local currency. Users who want to cash out their earnings will need to use an external exchange to complete this conversion.

Polygon confirmed on Wednesday that the rollout is expected to expand to more than 160 markets. “Live in Colombia and the Philippines, with 160+ markets coming, users now get faster settlement with USDC while gaining access to dollar-denominated assets,” Polygon shared in a statement.

Why Stablecoins for Creator Payouts

Meta paid creators nearly $3 billion across its platforms in 2025, a 35% increase from the year prior. Creators include influencers, educators, and entertainers who publish content on Facebook and Instagram.

Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to the value of a fiat currency, most commonly the US dollar. They are increasingly popular as a payment method because they can move across borders quickly and at low cost, without relying on traditional banking systems.

Circle’s USDC is currently the second-largest stablecoin by market capitalization, with a market cap of $77.3 billion. Tether’s USDT remains the market leader with a market cap of $189.4 billion.

Meta’s History With Crypto Payments

This is not Meta’s first attempt at building crypto payment services. The company launched a stablecoin project called Libra in 2019, which was later renamed Diem. The project faced heavy pushback from regulators, central banks, and lawmakers over concerns related to privacy, antitrust, and financial stability.

In January 2022, the project announced it could not move forward after talks with federal regulators fell apart. Meta sold all assets from the project to Silvergate Capital Corporation.

The new USDC rollout takes a different approach, leveraging existing stablecoins and established infrastructure partners rather than building its own proprietary token.

Meta stated that it reserves the right to pay creators through an alternate method if technical difficulties or unforeseen circumstances occur.