American entrepreneurs using PayPal’s online platform can now accept cryptocurrency payments. According to Fortune, the fintech company has launched a new feature supporting over 100 digital assets - from Bitcoin to memecoins like Trump Coin and Fartcoin.
Wallet Connection and Automatic Conversion
According to the announcement, merchants can enable the new option via the PayPal interface. The buyer selects crypto as the payment method, connects an external wallet, and PayPal then converts the asset through either a centralized exchange (like Coinbase) or a decentralized one (like Uniswap). The proceeds are first converted into PYUSD (PayPal’s stablecoin), then into U.S. dollars, and finally sent to the merchant.
According to company president Alex Chriss, the system is functional for international transactions as well. For example, a buyer from Guatemala can pay a U.S. merchant directly in crypto without involving banks.
In the first year, PayPal will charge merchants a fee of 0,99%, after which the rate will rise to 1,5%. For comparison, the average card transaction fee in the U.S. in 2024 was 1,57%, according to the Nilson Reportt.
Long-Term Strategy and Expansion
Executive Vice President Frank Keller stated that PayPal sees cryptocurrency as a crucial element of the digital economy, even if the shift to blockchain happens gradually.
The feature expansion continues previous initiatives. In 2020, PayPal enabled crypto purchases and storage for retail clients in the U.S., followed later by support for Venmo users. In 2023, the company launched its own stablecoin, PYUSD, whose market capitalization grew by 88% since early 2025, reaching $936.67 mln.
