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Five years ago, getting paid by brands in stablecoins would've sounded unusual.
Today, it's becoming part of how global business gets done. A recent Cybrid survey of 468 business leaders found that 42% of businesses already use stablecoins for cross-border payments, while 88% plan to adopt them within the next year.
The shift is happening at scale. Stablecoins processed an estimated $33 trillion in transaction volume in 2025, surpassing the annual payment volume of traditional card networks like Visa and Mastercard.
It's not hard to see why.
For businesses operating globally, stablecoins make it easier to settle payments without relying on slow, expensive cross-border payment systems. It's one reason stablecoins are becoming an increasingly common payment option for global brands working with talent across Africa.
What Are Stablecoins, Exactly?
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a stable value by being pegged to traditional currencies like the US dollar.
Unlike cryptocurrencies known for sharp price swings, stablecoins are built for everyday transactions, making them a practical way to send and receive money across borders.
Some of the most widely used stablecoins include USDT and USDC.
How 4 African Creators Get Paid by Global Brands Using Stablecoins
From Lagos to Nairobi, more African creators are rethinking how they receive international payments and, increasingly, choosing stablecoins.
"I realized I wasn't actually getting paid what I invoiced."— Ada, UGC Creator, Lagos
Ada creates user-generated content for skincare and beauty brands in the US and UK. For years, she'd been paid through the usual international channels, and for years, something never quite added up.
"I remember looking at one payment and thinking, where did the rest of it go?" she says. Between transfer fees, intermediary charges, and exchange rates, the amount that landed in her account rarely matched what she'd invoiced.
When one of her regular clients added stablecoins to their list of payment options, Ada decided to try it. The payment hit her wallet within minutes.
"What sold me wasn't just the speed," she says. "It was knowing exactly what I'd receive and being able to decide when to convert it. That gave me a lot more control over my earnings."
Now, whenever a client asks how she'd like to be paid, stablecoins are the first thing she mentions.
"When sponsorship payments became predictable, so did my business." — Brian, YouTube Creator, Nairobi
Brian's YouTube channel covers personal finance and tech, and as his audience grew, so did his sponsorship deals, including a recurring partnership with a European software company that pays creators monthly.
The company offers a few payment options, including bank transfer and stablecoins. Brian asked around before choosing. A few creators he trusted were already using stablecoins as their preferred option.
"I wanted something that didn't depend on banking hours or transfer timelines," he says. He opted in.
Now his payment lands on the same day every month, no matter what's happening with banks on either end. "It sounds like a small thing, but predictable payments make planning easier. I know when I can pay my editor, buy equipment, or start the next production."
“I tried it once to see if it was actually faster. I never really went back."—Tolu, Lifestyle Influencer, Abuja
Tolu's week is a rotation of short-form videos for fashion and travel brands, with campaign briefs arriving from agencies across several continents. Every campaign looked different, and so did every payment process. Some brands preferred international bank transfers. Others paid through global payment platforms. A growing number began offering stablecoins as another option.
"I tried it once, mostly out of curiosity," she says. "The payment landed within minutes. When I converted it to Naira, I didn't lose anything to fees, and the whole experience was seamless. I was sold.”
Now it's her default option whenever a brand offers it. "I used to keep a mental list of which brands were slow payers. Now, the money shows up fast, and I move on to the next brief."
“My art travels further than I do. Now my payments keep up." — Ifeoma, Textile Artist, Lagos
Ifeoma runs a registered textile business in Lagos, hand-tufting rugs and textile pieces sold to collectors and interior designers across Europe and North America.
As the business grew, some collectors started asking whether they could pay in stablecoins, because it's faster than a wire transfer. After comparing different payment methods, Ifeoma found herself choosing stablecoins more often.
"I get paid in stablecoins, hold it until I need it, and go back to the studio. That's the whole process now."
How Stablecoin Payments Work for Creators
More global brands are adding stablecoins to their list of accepted payment methods. Once you've agreed to receive payment in stablecoins, here’s how it actually goes down.
You agree on the amount and the stablecoin, usually USDT, the most widely used option for cross-border payments because most businesses and clients already recognise it.
You share your wallet address. Think of it like your account number: it tells the client exactly where the money should go.
The client sends the payment, and it typically lands within minutes.
From there, the decision is yours. Keep it in stablecoins, convert what you need to your local currency, or hold it for a future expense.
That's it. No processing windows, no awkward follow-up emails asking your client if the transfer has gone through.
Why More Creators Are Choosing Stablecoins
Stablecoins give creators greater control over how they receive, hold, and manage international income.
1) Faster Payments
When a project wraps, you want to start the next one, not spend three days checking your bank app. Stablecoin payments move in minutes, not business days.
2) Control over your dollars
Once you're paid in a dollar-pegged stablecoin like USDT, your earnings hold their value until you decide to convert them. No pressure to exchange the moment the money lands.
3) Fewer Payment Barriers
Brands working with creators across multiple countries don't want to manage a different payment process for each one. Stablecoins give them and you a single, consistent option that works everywhere.
4) Less admin, more output
Every hour spent chasing a late payment is an hour not spent filming, designing, or creating. When payment stops being a problem to manage, your energy goes back where it belongs.
How to Receive Stablecoin Payments on Busha
If a client's ready to pay you in USDT, USDC, or another supported stablecoin, here's how simple it is on Busha.
- Create and verify your Busha account.
- Once your account is set up, you'll get a dedicated wallet address for the stablecoin you're receiving.
- Send that address to your client. When they pay, the funds land in your Busha wallet within minutes.
- From there, it's your call: hold your stablecoins, exchange them for your local currency with no added fees, or withdraw straight to your connected bank account.
The result: a payment that clears in minutes, not days, no matter which side of the world it's coming from.
Ready to Receive Your Next International Payment?
Start receiving stablecoin payments with Busha.
Securely receive USDT, USDC, and other supported stablecoins from clients anywhere in the world, exchange to your local currency in minutes with no added fees, and withdraw directly to your bank account, all from one app.
Creating is the job. Getting paid shouldn't feel like a second one.
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