Powering Faster, Global Payouts for Modern Workers

Work has changed faster than payroll. Teams are increasingly distributed across cities, countries, and time zones, yet the way people get paid, especially across borders, has largely remained the same. For many contractors, receiving earnings still means waiting days for payments to clear, navigating fees, and working around banking hours that don’t reflect how global work actually happens.

That gap is exactly what zerohash and Gusto are addressing.

We’re excited to share that zerohash is powering stablecoin payout capabilities (currently in beta) on Gusto, giving contractors around the world the option to receive earnings in digital dollars with settlement in minutes, not days.

When Work Goes Global, Payments Need to Follow

The shift toward distributed work is no longer a trend. It’s a structural change in how small businesses operate. At least one-third of U.S. small businesses now outsource part of their operations to stay competitive. In 2025, 11% of small businesses employed international contractors, and 75% of SMBs said they plan to grow their global headcount to access specialized skills. Global hiring has become a practical necessity, not a future ambition.

Yet while teams have gone global, payroll infrastructure hasn’t always kept up. Traditional cross-border payments can take three to seven days to reach a worker. For businesses managing cash flow, and for contractors who rely on timely access to earnings, that delay matters.

From Multi-Day Delays to Minutes

By using zerohash’s stablecoin rails, Gusto can now move funds from employer to worker globally and in near real time. Stablecoins, combined with real-time payment systems, allow payouts to settle in minutes and operate around the clock. That speed is especially important for contractors working across borders, where traditional banking systems often introduce delays, added fees, and limited visibility into payment status.

With stablecoin payouts, contractors gain faster access to earnings, while businesses benefit from a more predictable and flexible payment experience.

A Growing Workforce With New Expectations

The demand for faster, more flexible payouts is being driven by the rapid growth of the contractor economy. The number of Americans working as full-time independent contractors more than doubled between 2020 and 2024, growing from 13.6 million to 27.7 million. That expansion has reshaped expectations around how and when people get paid, particularly for globally distributed teams.

As independent work becomes a core part of the modern economy, payment systems need to treat contractors as essential contributors, not edge cases. Stablecoin payouts help meet that expectation by offering speed, transparency, and global reach.

Why zerohash Powers This Infrastructure

Gusto serves more than 400,000 small business employers, many of which operate with teams spread across borders. Supporting payments at that scale requires infrastructure that is not only fast, but also compliant, secure, and built for real-world operations.

That’s where zerohash comes in. We power the regulated, enterprise-grade onchain infrastructure behind the scenes, handling the technical and regulatory complexity required to move money globally using stablecoins. This allows platforms like Gusto to offer new payment options without having to build or manage that infrastructure themselves.

As zerohash Founder and CEO Edward Woodford explains: “As the workforce becomes more global and more digital, traditional payment rails can no longer meet the speed and accessibility modern businesses require. Gusto is one of the most forward-thinking platforms for small businesses, and we’re proud to power the infrastructure that enables faster, more flexible payouts across borders.”

From Gusto’s perspective, the goal is simple: expand payment choice in a way that works at scale. “Payment choice is integral to helping small businesses and their teams thrive,” said Samant Nagpal, Head of Payments and Risk at Gusto. “zerohash’s regulatory posture and global infrastructure allow us to offer stablecoin payouts in a way that is simple, compliant, and scalable.”

Modern Payments for a 24/7 Economy

As global teams increasingly expect money to move digitally and around the clock, stablecoin payouts offer practical benefits for small businesses: faster cross-border transfers, improved cash flow flexibility, and fewer delays tied to traditional banking hours.

By powering stablecoin payouts on Gusto, zerohash is helping modernize how money moves—aligning payroll with the realities of a global, always-on workforce.

FAQs: How Stablecoins Improve Cross-Border Payments

What are stablecoins?

Stablecoins are digital currencies designed to maintain a stable value, typically pegged to a fiat currency like the U.S. dollar. Unlike volatile cryptocurrencies, stablecoins are built for everyday financial use cases such as payments, payouts, and settlement.

Why are cross-border payments traditionally slow?

Traditional cross-border payments often move through multiple banks, intermediaries, and local clearing systems. Each step introduces delays, fees, and limited visibility—resulting in settlement times that can range from three to seven days, or longer depending on the corridor.

How do stablecoins speed up cross-border payments?

Stablecoins move on blockchain-based rails that operate 24/7, without relying on banking hours or intermediary institutions. This allows funds to be transferred and settled globally in minutes rather than days, regardless of time zones or holidays.

Are stablecoin payments available around the clock?

Yes. One of the biggest advantages of stablecoins is that they operate continuously. Payments can be sent and received at any time, including nights, weekends, and holidays, which traditional banking systems don’t support.

How do stablecoins help international contractors and freelancers?

For contractors working across borders, stablecoins can reduce payment delays, eliminate uncertainty around settlement timing, and provide faster access to earnings. This is especially valuable for independent workers who rely on consistent cash flow.

Do stablecoins reduce costs in cross-border payments?

In many cases, yes. By removing intermediaries and simplifying settlement, stablecoins can help reduce fees associated with currency conversion, wire transfers, and correspondent banking—though costs can vary by provider and jurisdiction.

Are stablecoin payments transparent?

Stablecoin transactions are recorded on public blockchains, which can provide real-time visibility into payment status and settlement. This transparency can help reduce confusion around where a payment is and when it will arrive.

Are stablecoins regulated?

Stablecoin regulation varies by jurisdiction. Infrastructure providers like zerohash operate regulated entities and compliance frameworks designed to support lawful, enterprise-grade use of stablecoins for payments and settlement.

Do recipients need specialized technical knowledge to use stablecoins?

No. Stablecoin payments are increasingly abstracted from the underlying technology. Many platforms allow users to receive funds through familiar interfaces, without requiring them to understand blockchain mechanics.

Why are businesses adopting stablecoins for global payments?

As work becomes more global and digital, businesses are looking for payment rails that match that reality. Stablecoins offer faster settlement, global reach, and operational flexibility, making them a practical option for modern cross-border payments.