Global payments infrastructure platform Mercuryo has released data indicating a significant rise in crypto payroll services, driven by a growing number of remote workers and digital nomads who receive their salaries in stablecoins before converting them into local fiat currencies.

According to Mercuryo, stablecoins have become the dominant digital tokens for off-ramping. During the first half of 2026, USD Coin (USDC) and tether tokens (USDt) accounted for 57% of all accepted off-ramp transactions, up from 25% a year earlier. Their share of total turnover also increased from 30% to 56% over the same period. Together, USDC and USDT represent the two largest stablecoins by market capitalization, making their dominance of off-ramp flows a signal of where everyday crypto utility is concentrating.

Originally designed as a safe harbor for crypto traders navigating market volatility, stablecoins are increasingly being used as digital money for salaries. Freelancers, remote workers, and digital nomads are choosing to live and work globally while receiving income in dollar-backed stablecoins, attracted by faster settlement times and lower fees compared to traditional bank transfers, which can take several business days and carry significant costs, particularly for cross-border payments. The World Bank estimates that global remittance flows exceed $800 billion annually, and stablecoin-based transfers are positioning themselves as a competitive alternative in corridors where traditional fees remain highest.

Rise's 2025 Crypto Payroll Report found that 25% of businesses already use crypto for payroll. Rise reports having processed more than $1 billion in payroll volume, with more than half of worker withdrawals now occurring in stablecoins across the 190-plus countries it supports.

Regional demand is especially pronounced in markets facing currency instability or costly remittance corridors. Brazil alone received an estimated $318.8 billion in crypto value between July 2024 and June 2025, with around 90% of flows linked to stablecoins, according to Chainalysis data and Brazilian central-bank commentary cited in Rise's 2026 report.

"Stablecoins provide a low-cost, high-speed means of transferring value, and their growing use for salary payments reflects increasing awareness of the advantages that crypto payroll services offer over traditional payroll," said Arthur Firstov, Chief Business Officer at Mercuryo. "The benefits of having a salary paid in stablecoins are manyfold. For workers in countries with high levels of inflation, receiving salaries in stablecoins can help preserve purchasing power. Others use salaries in stablecoins for low-cost remittances. Being paid in crypto is undoubtedly moving from the fringes towards the mainstream."

Visa has introduced stablecoin payouts for creators, freelancers, and gig workers, while global payroll provider Deel is building stablecoin payroll infrastructure for businesses operating internationally. Their participation alongside established fintech cross-border providers such as Wise and Remitly signals that stablecoin rails are entering a competitive landscape long dominated by traditional money-transfer operators. As more workers receive income directly in digital dollars, demand is growing for convenient ways to convert digital tokens into local currencies.

Mercuryo's data reflects this broader shift. Stablecoin off-ramp transaction volumes rose 446% year on year, compared with 38% for other digital tokens. Approximately 80% of the overall increase in off-ramp transactions during the period came from stablecoins.

Mercuryo also observed that stablecoin cash-out activity remained consistent throughout the week, with weekend transaction volumes averaging about 86% of weekday levels, underscoring strong demand for always-on access to digital dollars outside traditional banking hours.

The rise of stablecoins comes against a more supportive regulatory backdrop. In the United States, the GENIUS Act established a legal framework for the issuance of stablecoins, reserve backing, and consumer protections. In Europe, the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation introduced comprehensive stablecoin rules that took effect in 2024, providing a parallel framework for issuers and service providers operating in EU markets. Greater regulatory certainty is expected to strengthen institutional confidence and further accelerate the adoption of regulated stablecoins for payments, cross-border transfers, and other real-world financial applications.

The findings are based on off-ramp transactions processed on Mercuryo's platform, comparing customer activity during the first half of 2026 with the first half of 2025.