Coinbase Unveils Global Payments Platform Powered by USDC Stablecoin
- Coinbase debuts a USDC platform offering instant and low-cost global business payments.
- Global Payouts and Payment Links power faster, cheaper, and borderless stablecoin transfers.
- Businesses can automate payments, earn 4.1% APY, and integrate with accounting systems.
Coinbase Inc. has rolled out a new business platform designed to facilitate faster and cheaper global payments using the USDC stablecoin, as the crypto exchange expands its presence in the corporate finance market.
The service, called Coinbase Business, was announced on Thursday and introduces tools designed to help companies send and receive money globally without relying on banks or payment processors. It focuses on solving long-standing pain points in cross-border transactions, including high fees, delayed settlements, and currency conversion costs.
The platform combines two main products — Global Payouts and Payment Links — enabling businesses to process stablecoin payments in real-time while avoiding traditional financial friction.
Cross-Border Payments With No Gas Fees
Under the new system, businesses can send USDC, a digital token pegged to the U.S. dollar, to any blockchain address or even directly to an email address. Recipients can access the funds instantly without paying gas fees on Base, Coinbase’s Ethereum Layer-2 network.
The exchange stated in a blog post that payouts can be funded from either a company’s Coinbase balance or a linked bank account. Contact management tools enable users to save vendor details for future use, thereby reducing errors in repeat transactions.
Moreover, recipients who don’t yet have a crypto wallet can still claim their funds via email by opening a free Coinbase account and withdrawing their balance in local currency. Coinbase wrote in a blog post,
If your recipient doesn’t have a crypto wallet, they can receive the payment via email, create a Coinbase account for free to claim their funds, and easily cash out in their local market
The exchange has also introduced a Payouts API, which enables companies to automate payments in batches or on a recurring schedule, a feature designed for businesses managing contractors, affiliates, or international teams.
Low-Fee Customer Payments via Payment Links
Coinbase Business also introduces Payment Links, a tool that lets companies create a shareable link to request payment in USDC. Customers can use wallets such as MetaMask, Phantom, or Base App to complete payments instantly, with settlement taking place in under a second.
Unlike credit card transactions, which often incur processing fees of 3% and carry the risk of chargebacks, Payment Links enable direct on-chain transfers at minimal cost. Coinbase plans to expand this feature with a Payment Links API, enabling developers to build crypto payment options directly into websites and applications.
Funds held in Coinbase Business accounts earn a 4.1% APY through the exchange’s USDC rewards program and can be withdrawn to business bank accounts via wire or ACH transfers. Accounting integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, and CoinTracker enable automated record-keeping for companies seeking to maintain regulatory compliance.
Coinbase Expands Its Stablecoin Ambitions
The move deepens Coinbase’s involvement in the stablecoin sector, which has grown into a $300 billion market. Coinbase shares revenue from USDC yields with Circle, the stablecoin’s issuer, under a 50-50 arrangement. Circle’s USDC is the world’s second-largest stablecoin, with a market capitalization of roughly $76 billion.
Per reports, Tom Duff Gordon, Coinbase’s vice president of international policy, said the company’s relationship with Circle remains collaborative even as both firms build payment products that sometimes overlap.
Looking beyond cross-border payments and remittances, Coinbase is skimming toward new forms of digital commerce powered by stablecoins. The company is developing X402, an open-source protocol that enables programmable USDC payments between automated systems or AI agents.
Industry sources indicate that Coinbase has also held talks to acquire London-based payments company BVNK in a deal valued at approximately $1.5 billion, although the exchange declined to comment on the potential acquisition.
Related: BlackRock Targets Stablecoin Issuers With New Treasury Fund
Facing Fintech Competition
The new business platform places Coinbase in direct competition with fintech companies such as Mercury, Brex, BitPay, and OpenNode, which offer payment and yield-bearing business accounts. Coinbase describes its new product as a “crypto operating account,” combining the functions of a bank, an exchange, and a payment processor into a single interface.
Currently, Coinbase Business is in an alpha testing phase, with businesses invited to apply for early access. A broader rollout is expected later in 2025, according to the company.Despite the product announcement, Coinbase (COIN) shares were down 1.80% over the past 24 hours, trading around $330. The stock has been sliding since its October 9 peak of $387, as investors weigh broader market volatility and renewed U.S.-China trade tensions. Even so, the stock remains up 3% over the past month, reflecting steady confidence in the firm’s longer-term strategy.
