Crypto Payroll Explained: How to Pay Employees in USDT or USDC

International companies face growing challenges in paying employees and contractors quickly and securely across borders. Bank transfers remain slow and costly, while platforms like Payoneer or Deel often lack flexibility and advanced tools.

This article explains how a crypto payroll system works:

▪️ using stablecoins such as USDT and USDC;

▪️ what platforms can automate the process;

▪️ how to integrate these solutions safely and in compliance with regulations.

Traditional Payments Hinder International Business

Organizations with employees spread across countries face rising difficulties in payroll management. International payments pass through multiple banks, causing delays and rising fees. The process becomes slow, costly, and inconvenient.

Platforms like Payoneer, Deel, Remote, and Wise partially address these issues, but they rely on local networks. This can create glitches, country-specific restrictions, and additional bureaucracy.

❌ Payouts require more manual processing;
❌ Verification issues occur;
❌ Support doesn’t always provide suitable solutions.

As a result: businesses seek ways to pay teams without intermediaries or complications. Cryptocurrency payments, primarily stablecoins USDT and USDC, address these problems: they are pegged to the US dollar, their exchange rate fluctuates minimally, and transfers can be completed in minutes with low fees.

Crypto Salaries – the Future of Global Finance

For international businesses, crypto salaries provide a practical solution. In 2024, the share of specialists paid in cryptocurrency tripled, rising from 3% in 2023 to 9.6%. At the same time, fiat payments fell from 97% in 2023 to 89.1% in 2024.

This shift eliminates the need to open foreign bank accounts or navigate complex compliance procedures for employee payments.

Example: 

▪️ The company has an office in London.

▪️ The developer works in Nigeria. 

▪️ Previously, the company would need a Nigerian bank account or use services like Deel, Payoneer, or Wise. 

▪️ Both options require corporate accounts, verification, and compliance with banking rules, which vary by country and carry verification risks.

With cryptocurrency, the process is simpler: purchase USDT or USDC and send it directly to the employee.

Pros of crypto salaries:

💵 Transaction speed: 3–5 minutes. 
💵 Lower fees than banks: network fees $0.01 (or less), gateway fees 0.25–0.5% (market average). Example: Volet.com charges 0.25%.
💵 Global payments without bureaucracy, restrictions, or currency risks.

Conclusion: implementing a modern crypto payroll system reduces costs and increases flexibility for businesses. Employees receive stable payments without delays.

Why USDT and USDC Stablecoins Are a Priority

According to Pantera Capital, the main cryptocurrencies used for salaries in 2024 were: 

— USDC: 63%
— USDT: 28.6%
— SOL: 1.9%
— ETH: 1.3%

Source: Pantera Capital Blockchain Compensation Survey 2024

Companies and freelancers prefer stablecoins — Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC) — because they:

✅ Are pegged 1:1 to the US dollar;

✅ Are fully backed by dollar assets;

✅ Are not affected by market fluctuations; 

✅ Enable fixed payments without recalculating exchange rates.

For businesses, using stablecoins is effectively a dollar-based payment, only faster and cheaper.

Who’s Already Paying in Cryptocurrency: Real-World Scenarios

Crypto salaries are increasingly common across modern industries, particularly emerging sectors. According to Rise, 75% of Generation Z prefer to be paid in stablecoins rather than dollars, and one in four companies worldwide pays employees in cryptocurrency.

Most common sectors.

Gaming and Web3 projects:

▪️ Indie developers;
▪️ Blockchain games;
▪️ NFT platforms.

Product and tech startups:

▪️ SaaS and online services;
▪️ Digital studios;
▪️ International IT teams.

Outsourcing and consulting:

▪️ Consulting agencies;
▪️ Marketing and creative agencies;
▪️ Freelance project contractors.

Education and training:
 ▪️ Online courses and platforms;
 ▪️ Remote tutors and mentors;
 ▪️ EdTech startups.

Creative industries and media
 ▪️ Content creators and streamers;
▪️ Design studios;
 ▪️ Video and audio production.

Fintech and blockchain services
 ▪️ Crypto projects and DeFi platforms;
 ▪️ Payment startups;
 ▪️ Blockchain consulting.

Which to Choose: USDT or USDC

Conclusion:

✅ For maximum transparency and legal security, USDC is the better choice.

✅ For broader liquidity and market support, USDT works best.

How a Business Can Switch to Crypto Salaries

1️⃣ Check legislation and taxation

— Verify how cryptocurrency and stablecoins are treated for salary payments in your country.

— Understand tax obligations for both the company and employees.

— Prepare instructions for accounting and legal teams.

A crucial first step is to understand the implications of tax on crypto income for both the employer and the employee to ensure full compliance.

2️⃣ Determine which stablecoins fit into your business

— Decide between USDT and USDC.

Many businesses opt for a stablecoin payroll using USDC for its regulatory clarity and transparency.

3️⃣ Choose a payout method

— Manual payments via crypto wallets are possible but inefficient for teams with dozens of employees.

— Use services that support mass payouts, such as Volet.com. These platforms can pay hundreds of employees, with commissions starting at 0.25% versus 2.5–5% for traditional acquiring.

4️⃣ Set up a corporate wallet

— Create a corporate wallet for employee payments.

— Connect it to the payout platform using API automation.

— Run test transactions to verify proper operation.

5️⃣ Implement regular payments and monitoring

— Establish an automatic payment schedule and transaction monitoring via the API.

— Maintain clear reporting for accounting and employee transparency.

Automating Crypto Salaries with APIs

Crypto payment automation is expected to grow significantly between 2024 and 2025.

Previously, paying in crypto required business owners to:

— manually verify wallet addresses;

— monitor network fees;

— send individual transfers.

This manual process is inefficient, especially for companies with dozens of remote employees. 

Today, crypto payments can be automated via an application programming interface (API). By connecting a corporate wallet or account to a payout system, businesses can initiate mass transfers instantly or on a set schedule. The system automatically: 

▪️ calculates fees;
▪️ verifies recipient addresses;
▪️ records transactions so accounting data is preserved and tracked.

A robust crypto payroll system makes paying salaries in digital assets a standard financial process.

FAQ

What is a crypto salary?

A crypto salary is a payment to employees or contractors in cryptocurrency, usually stablecoins (USDT, USDC). It allows a company to pay directly without intermediaries.

How to buy cryptocurrency?

The simplest way is via major centralized exchanges such as Binance, OKX, Bybit, or Coinbase. Register, complete basic verification (KYC), and purchase USDT or USDC using a card or bank account—either directly on the exchange or via P2P platforms.

You can also use Volet.com: bank transfers are supported in many countries, and in some cases, transfers are commission-free for businesses.

How to pay employees in cryptocurrency?

The easiest method is using a service like Volet.com. Connect a corporate wallet, upload a list of recipients, and initiate payouts. Transfers are automatically processed, recorded on the blockchain, and employees receive funds in their wallets.

This streamlined process shows how simple it is to pay employees in crypto at scale.

Do I need to pay taxes on crypto income?

Yes. Cryptocurrency is considered an asset in most countries, and taxes are paid like regular income. Accounting departments often record the dollar or local currency equivalent at the time of payment. Volet.com provides transaction data to simplify reporting.

How to pay salaries in stablecoins?

Stablecoins are ideal for regular payments. They are pegged to the US dollar, providing predictable amounts, and fees are minimal. Transfers are processed within 3–5 minutes. Using Volet.com, automatic payments in USDT or USDC can be set up at a fixed dollar equivalent.

How the crypto salary system works

The system includes three components:

• An API or payout interface for managing transactions;
• A blockchain network that executes transfers;
• Reporting and analytics for full accounting visibility.

Volet.com integrates all three: you initiate payouts, and the system handles conversion, fee calculation, and address verification.