PYUSD enters the AI funding race: How PayPal's stablecoin can leverage the GPU economy

PayPal’s PYUSD stablecoin has found a new track—partnering with Web3 lending protocol USD.AI to provide financing support for AI enterprises. This move marks a breakthrough in stablecoin applications from payment settlement to industry financing.

Stablecoins Become a New Tool for AI Infrastructure Financing

USD.AI, as a blockchain lending protocol, will utilize PYUSD to issue loans to AI companies for purchasing GPUs, building data centers, and other AI infrastructure investments. Borrowers will directly transfer their PYUSD loan amounts into their PayPal accounts for seamless integration.

The collaboration between PayPal and USD.AI demonstrates greater ambition—they plan to integrate traditional payment frameworks with programmable settlement mechanisms, specifically supporting long-term leasing, credit lines, and future AI agent-driven transaction scenarios. As an incentive to attract customers, both parties commit to offering a 4.5% annual yield on deposits up to $1 billion, starting in early January and continuing for one year.

PYUSD Growth Curve

According to the latest data (updated on January 15, 2026), PYUSD’s performance is remarkable:

• Circulating supply reaches 3.68 billion tokens
• 24-hour trading volume is $29,540

Earlier data showed that PYUSD’s supply jumped from 1.2 billion in September to 3.8 billion, a 216% increase. The number of transactions also grew by 150%, reaching 1.8 million. Despite competition from USDT and USDC, PYUSD was one of the fastest-growing stablecoins in Q3 2025, ranking second.

Payment Innovation in the AI Era

Behind this wave of collaborations is a global frenzy for AI infrastructure. According to UBS Group’s forecast in May this year, global AI capital expenditure(capex) will grow 60% to $360 billion, with a further 33% increase to $480 billion by 2026.

PayPal’s strategic positioning aligns perfectly with this trend. In October last year, PayPal partnered with OpenAI to embed payment functions directly into ChatGPT, allowing users to complete payments without leaving the platform. PayPal handles merchant routing and transaction verification, while OpenAI employees leverage AI tools to enhance work efficiency. This bidirectional empowerment model is becoming standard.

The Multidimensional Role of Stablecoins

It is noteworthy that stablecoins have become one of the top three drivers of Web3 gaming infrastructure. A report from the Blockchain Gaming Alliance(BGA) indicates that stablecoins are driving transformation in the gaming ecosystem, providing developers with sustainable revenue generation systems.

From international remittances to industry financing, from gaming incentives to payment embedding, stablecoins are breaking down boundaries within the crypto ecosystem. PayPal’s move not only strengthens PYUSD’s market position but also redefines future application scenarios for stablecoins.

Currently, many financial institutions are following suit. SoFi Bank has launched SoFiUSD, while European banking institutions are developing euro-pegged stablecoins aimed at simplifying cross-border remittances and fund transfers. This competition in stablecoins is far more than just rivalry—it signals industry upgrading.