Western Union Launches USDPT on Solana Advancing Regulated Digital Infrastructure for Global Payments

Key Terms

stablecoin financial

A stablecoin is a type of digital currency designed to keep its value steady, often by being backed by traditional assets like money or commodities. For investors, stablecoins offer a reliable way to move money quickly across digital platforms without the value fluctuations common with other cryptocurrencies, making them useful for saving, trading, or transferring funds with less risk of sudden losses.

blockchain technical

A blockchain is a digital record-keeping system that securely stores information across many computers, making it difficult to alter or tamper with. Think of it like a shared, unchangeable ledger that everyone can see and verify, ensuring transparency and trust. For investors, this technology offers a way to securely track transactions and assets without relying on a central authority, potentially reducing costs and increasing security.

correspondent banking financial

A network arrangement where one bank provides payment, settlement and foreign-exchange services on behalf of another bank so customers can send and receive money across regions where the sending bank has no branch. Think of it as a local post office using an international partner to deliver mail: it enables cross-border trade and remittances, generates fee income for the servicing bank, and creates operational and compliance risks that can affect bank profitability and market access.

virtual currency exchanges financial

Virtual currency exchanges are online platforms where people buy, sell and trade digital coins and tokens, functioning like a stock market for cryptocurrencies. They matter to investors because they determine how easily assets can be bought or sold, set market prices, charge fees, and introduce risks tied to security and regulation—so the choice of exchange can affect returns, costs, and the safety of holdings.

custodians financial

Custodians are banks or specialized firms that hold and safeguard securities and cash on behalf of investors, acting like a vault and record-keeper for financial assets. They handle tasks such as processing transfers, collecting dividends or interest, and keeping official ownership records, so investors can focus on decisions rather than safekeeping. Reliable custodians reduce the risk of loss or paperwork errors and are important for trust, liquidity and operational safety in investing.

settlement asset financial

An asset used to complete a financial transaction or fulfill an obligation between parties, such as cash, a stock, a bond, or a digital token. Like using cash or a cleared check to finish a purchase, the chosen settlement asset determines how quickly and safely a trade or payment is completed, affecting liquidity, timing and the risk that one side doesn’t receive what was promised. Investors care because the settlement asset influences cost, ease of transfer and exposure to loss during settlement.

liquidity financial

Liquidity is how easily and quickly an asset or investment can be converted into cash without losing value. It matters to investors because higher liquidity means they can access their money quickly if needed, while lower liquidity can make it harder to sell assets promptly or at a fair price, potentially creating financial challenges. Think of it like trying to sell a common item versus a rare collectible—it's much easier to sell the common item fast.

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Western Union (NYSE: WU) today announced the launch of USDPT, its U.S. dollar‑denominated payment stablecoin, marking a major milestone in the company’s evolution toward regulated, digital‑first financial infrastructure.

Fully backed by U.S. dollars and issued by Anchorage Digital Bank N.A., the first federally regulated crypto bank in the United States, and built on Solana, USDPT is designed to operate within real‑world payment systems, combining blockchain‑based settlement with Western Union’s global compliance, risk and distribution capabilities.

“USDPT reinforces Western Union’s role as a global payments platform,” said Devin McGranahan, Western Union’s President and CEO. “By integrating a regulated digital dollar directly into our network, we’re creating a more efficient settlement layer that supports partners, agents and future consumer use cases — all while preserving the trust and scale that define our brand.”

Issued by Anchorage Digital Bank N.A. on federally regulated infrastructure and integrated into Western Union’s payment systems, USDPT serves as an always‑on settlement asset that operates on Solana’s high-performance blockchain that eliminates the latency and fragmentation of traditional correspondent banking rails.

“Stablecoins have always promised faster, more efficient money movement, but scaling them into real payment networks requires more than technology,” notes Nathan McCauley, Co-Founder and CEO, Anchorage Digital. “It requires regulatory alignment and operational rigor. As a federally chartered bank, we provide that foundation, allowing USDPT to function as trusted, always-on financial infrastructure from day one.”

“Bringing stablecoins into production payment flows requires infrastructure that is both institution-grade and continuously available,” said Lily Liu, President, Solana Foundation. “Solana’s high-throughput, low-latency design enables assets like USDPT to move with the speed and reliability required for real-world financial settlement, supporting global payments without interruption.”

Connecting Digital Assets to Real‑World Payments

USDPT is designed to support multiple strategic use cases across Western Union’s ecosystem, reinforcing the company’s long‑standing role as a bridge between global financial systems and local access to financial services for its customers.

Western Union is developing the following services to support USDPT:

• Global Exchange Support, to make USDPT available for purchase on licensed global virtual currency exchanges.

• Digital Asset Network, to connect licensed virtual currency exchanges and custodians to Western Union’s global payout and liquidity infrastructure.

• Stable by Western Union, a consumer-facing spend capability launching in 2026 in 40+ countries.

• Treasury and Agent Settlement, to enable near‑instant, 24/7 settlement with USDPT between Western Union and its global agents. This will allow Western Union to reduce idle balances and deploy liquidity more dynamically across its network.

Together, these applications will extend USDPT from institutional settlement into practical, real‑world usage, linking digital value with cash‑based and consumer payment experiences.

A Signal for the Future of Payments

The launch of USDPT reflects a broader shift in how global payments are evolving, as established financial institutions adopt regulated digital assets as core infrastructure going forward.

By combining blockchain settlement with one of the world’s most established money movement networks, Western Union is helping shape a future where digital dollars operate at global scale with institutional trust.

About Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is committed to helping people around the world who aspire to build financial futures for themselves, their loved ones and their communities. Our leading cross-border, cross-currency money movement, payments and digital financial services empower consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments—across more than 200 countries and territories and over 130 currencies—to connect with billions of bank accounts, millions of digital wallets and cards, and a global footprint of hundreds of thousands of retail locations. Our goal is to offer accessible financial services that help people and communities prosper. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

About Anchorage Digital

Anchorage Digital is a global crypto platform that enables institutions to participate in digital assets through trading, staking, custody, governance, settlement, stablecoin issuance, and the industry’s leading security infrastructure. Home to Anchorage Digital Bank N.A., the first federally chartered crypto bank in the U.S., Anchorage Digital also serves institutions through Anchorage Digital Singapore, which is licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore; Anchorage Digital NY, which holds a BitLicense from the New York Department of Financial Services; and self-custody wallet Porto by Anchorage Digital. Anchorage Digital Bank also offers fiat custody services through the use of an FDIC-insured, licensed sub-custodian. Anchorage Digital is funded by leading institutions including Andreessen Horowitz, GIC, Goldman Sachs, KKR, and Visa, with a valuation of $4.2 billion. Founded in 2017 in San Francisco, California, Anchorage Digital has offices in New York, New York; Porto, Portugal; Singapore; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Learn more at anchorage.com, on X @Anchorage, and on LinkedIn.

WU-G

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260504531737/en/

Media Contact:
Amanda Demarest
media@westernunion.com

Source: The Western Union Company