HR platform Gusto is piloting stablecoin payouts via Zerohash to send cash across borders without the usual agonizing wait.
Payroll giant Gusto has linked arms with crypto plumbing outfit Zerohash to let workers outside the U.S. get paid in stablecoins. The beta integration lets eligible contractors collect earnings in USD-pegged stables, with settlement that clocks in measured in minutes, not the traditional business-day drag.
About a third of U.S. small businesses now outsource at least one role, and Gusto’s own research says 11% hired international contractors in 2025. Old-school cross-border wires can take three to seven days to land, tying up cash for contractors and headaches for employers. Gusto claims that by leaning on stablecoins and real-time rails, it can move money globally at warp speed compared to legacy channels.
Stablecoins are crypto tokens pegged to assets like fiat or gold, acting as the grease in the engine of the digital economy. They serve as payment rails and a conduit for moving value across borders, with Tether’s USDT leading the pack and Circle’s USDC right behind.
“As the workforce increasingly becomes more global and more digital, traditional payment rails can no longer meet the speed and accessibility that modern businesses require,” said Edward Woodford, founder and CEO of Zerohash.
The setup gives workers more choice in how they are paid, including the ability to receive funds through both custodial and self-custodial digital wallets. Payments move onchain with settlement and traceability, supported by regulated entities operating across multiple jurisdictions. Gusto serves more than 400,000 small business employers.
