Western Union has a costly problem. Billions of dollars can move through its global payment network, but some of its capital must sit idle in bank accounts, waiting for customers to send money.
The 175-year-old remittance giant believes stablecoins could change that.
Speaking to BeInCrypto at Merge Madrid, Malcolm Clarke, Western Union’s head of digital assets, explained why the company is betting on its own stablecoin, USDPT.
“It’s expensive because we have to park capital on those correspondent banking layers.”
Western Union currently relies on prefunded accounts across international banking networks. Real-time stablecoin settlement could free up that capital and reduce operating costs.
That’s the economic argument behind USDPT, which Western Union launched in May 2026, following its initial announcement in October 2025.
Issued by Anchorage Digital Bank on Solana, USDPT could help Western Union move money around the clock.
What Does This Mean for Ordinary Western Union Customers?
Western Union also wants to connect cryptocurrencies with its global cash network.
Through infrastructure provider Rain and Visa, the company is developing stablecoin-powered payment services.
“The consumer can literally pay a small fee, change from crypto to fiat, and then walk into a Western Union store and exit with cash.”
Clarke said the cash-out service covers 160 markets.
The strategy gained momentum following America’s GENIUS Act in July 2025, which gave payment stablecoins a federal regulatory framework.
Clarke also pointed to the proposed CLARITY Act as another potential step toward integrating stablecoins with traditional finance.
AI Payments Could Be the Next Battleground
Clarke is more skeptical about the growing excitement surrounding AI agents making payments.
“It feels like it’s the next buzzword that gets VCs to unlock their wallets and it’s exciting.”
Yet he sees genuine potential, provided agents operate within trusted permissions and can settle payments instantly.
“So you need a real-time, irrefutable payment rail that can be global as a single layer.”
Western Union also intends to accept other cryptocurrencies and convert them into USDPT.
For Clarke, the average customer has little interest in the technology behind a transfer.
“If you go to the general user that’s not in these conferences and talk to them about stablecoin, they’re not interested, and they’re gonna look at you sideways and frankly they should.”
