Meta Returns to Stablecoins With USDC Creator Payouts

Four years after shutting down its controversial Libra project, Meta is officially back in the stablecoin space — this time with a much quieter approach.

The tech giant has begun rolling out USDC payouts for select Facebook creators in Colombia and the Philippines, allowing users to receive earnings directly through crypto wallets connected to the platform. The system currently operates on the Solana Labs and Polygon Labs blockchain networks.

Rather than launching its own digital currency like Libra or Diem, Meta is now leaning on existing stablecoin infrastructure and regulated third-party providers.

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Creators opting into the program can connect wallets such as MetaMask, Phantom, Binance, or Kraken to receive payouts in USDC. Meta itself does not handle fiat conversion, meaning users must cash out through external exchanges if they want local currency withdrawals.

The company has also partnered with Stripe to manage crypto-related tax reporting tied to the payouts.

“We strive to offer the most relevant payment methods, which is why we are exploring how stablecoins could become part of our suite of options,” a Meta spokesperson told Fortune.

A Very Different Stablecoin Strategy

The rollout marks a major strategic shift from Meta’s earlier attempt to build a global digital currency network.

Back in 2019, the company unveiled Libra — later rebranded to Diem — as a stablecoin initiative backed by a consortium of corporate partners. The project quickly drew intense scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators concerned about monetary sovereignty, financial stability, and the influence of Big Tech over payments infrastructure.

By 2022, the project was officially abandoned.

Now, instead of trying to create a new currency ecosystem from scratch, Meta appears to be integrating directly into existing stablecoin rails that already have liquidity, compliance frameworks, and growing institutional adoption.

The timing also reflects how dramatically the regulatory environment has shifted over the past two years.

Following the passage of the GENIUS Act in 2025, dollar-backed stablecoins gained a clearer regulatory framework in the United States, accelerating adoption across fintech, payments, and e-commerce sectors.

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Stablecoins Move Further Into Big Tech

Meta is no longer alone in exploring stablecoin integrations.

Over the past year, companies including Shopify, Western Union, DoorDash, Google, and Apple have all reportedly explored or expanded stablecoin payment infrastructure in some form.

Shopify recently began enabling merchants to accept USDC payments, while DoorDash partnered with payments startup Tempo to explore stablecoin payouts for delivery drivers.

For Meta, the creator economy may be the most natural entry point.

Cross-border creator payouts have long suffered from high fees, banking friction, and slow settlement times — especially in emerging markets. Stablecoins offer near-instant transfers with significantly lower transaction costs, making them increasingly attractive for platforms managing global payout networks.

The move also reinforces how stablecoins are evolving from crypto trading tools into mainstream internet payment infrastructure.

And this time, Meta appears far more interested in quietly integrating into the system than trying to rebuild it from scratch.