Western Union has unveiled StableCard, a digital wallet paired with a VISA-branded payment card that enables users to hold, send, and spend its U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, USDPT. The move marks the remittance giant's formal expansion into on-chain payments — a notable strategic step for a company whose traditional money transfer network spans more than 200 countries and territories.

The service was developed in partnership with stablecoin infrastructure provider Rain. It is initially rolling out across 37 markets and is slated to expand to more than 60 by the end of 2026.

StableCard users can receive Western Union transfers directly into a USDPT wallet, transfer funds to compatible cryptocurrency wallets, and spend their balances at any merchant that accepts VISA, including through Apple Pay and Google Pay.

The launch builds on Western Union's introduction of USDPT in May 2026 under the U.S. GENIUS Act, a federal framework that established regulatory standards for payment stablecoins and gave established financial institutions a clearer path to issuing their own tokens. The stablecoin was deployed on the Solana blockchain as part of the company's effort to advance regulated digital infrastructure for global payments. Western Union Launches USDPT on Solana

Western Union's entry into stablecoin-based remittances comes as competitor MoneyGram has also moved into the space. MoneyGram launched its MGUSD stablecoin on the Stellar blockchain, positioning it to eventually serve as the foundation of a payments network reaching roughly 60 million active users across more than 200 countries and territories.

#MoneyGram said $MGUSD will eventually serve as the foundation of its payments network, which reaches roughly 60 million active users across more than 200 countries and territories.… pic.twitter.com/C658Wwu2c6 — BitKE (@BitcoinKE) June 2, 2026

Speaking to media, MoneyGram executive Soohoo said the company has shifted from experimenting with blockchain to integrating it directly into its global payments infrastructure. Rather than promoting cryptocurrency as a consumer-facing product, MoneyGram is leveraging blockchain technology to reduce settlement times and lower operating costs. MoneyGram CEO Discusses MGUSD Stablecoin Strategy

The push by both legacy providers into stablecoins comes amid sustained competitive pressure from digital-first fintech platforms such as Wise and Remitly, which have gained market share by offering lower fees and faster settlement. According to the World Bank, the global average cost of sending remittances has remained above 6% — more than double the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal target of 3% — making cost reduction a central driver of blockchain adoption in the sector.

The broader trend of cryptocurrency-linked payment cards saw significant momentum in 2025. According to data from Dune Analytics, spending through VISA-issued cryptocurrency cards surged by 525% over the year. The combined net spend across six VISA-partnered crypto card programs rose from $14.6 million in January 2025 to $91.3 million by December 2025. VISA Crypto Cards See Over 500% Spending Surge in 2025

The StableCard launch reflects a broader industry shift as legacy remittance providers adopt stablecoin technology to offer faster, dollar-based transfers and savings options. For users in high-inflation economies, dollar-pegged stablecoins also provide access to a relatively stable store of value without requiring a traditional bank account — a use case that has driven stablecoin adoption across regions where local currency volatility has eroded purchasing power.