HR platform Remote teams up with Stripe for stablecoin contractor payments, starting with USDC on Base

Global HR platform and payroll provider Remote has teamed up with the payments processing giant Stripe to roll out a new service for its clients, enabling them to pay their contractors directly in stablecoins, starting with Circle's USDC on the Coinbase-incubated Layer 2 network Base.

The service is initially available to U.S.-based customers, allowing them to make near-instant stablecoin payments to contractors in 69 countries globally while retaining compliance with local and international laws.

The new feature is designed to offer companies a flexible and efficient way to meet the needs of contractors seeking faster payouts or an alternative to their local currencies, according to a statement shared with The Block.

Contractors simply select the new payment method via the Remote portal and add their Base network address to receive payouts in USDC, while their employer is billed in U.S. dollars.

Managing contractors is one of Remote's fastest-growing features as businesses increasingly tap into global talent pools and embrace more flexible workforce models, according to the firm. 

“One of the biggest hurdles companies face when hiring on international talent is providing fast, flexible and reliable payments around the world,” Remote CEO and co-founder Job van der Voort said. “With the introduction of stablecoin payouts via Stripe, we’re adding a feature that has been highly requested by our customers, enabling them to pay contractors how they prefer, while maintaining the compliance and simplicity Remote is known for.”

Remote was founded in 2019 and is backed by leading investors, including SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Accel, Sequoia, Index Ventures, Two Sigma Ventures, General Catalyst and B Capital.

Stripe ramps up its crypto services

Stripe has been ramping up its crypto services in recent months. An early pioneer of bitcoin payment support in 2014, Stripe reinstated crypto payments for U.S. businesses via USDC on Ethereum, Solana and Polygon in October. The same month, the firm finalized its largest acquisition to date, snapping up stablecoin platform Bridge in a deal valued at $1.1 billion — a record for the crypto industry.

In June, Stripe also partnered with Coinbase to incorporate Base into its crypto payout products and enable users to use Stripe's fiat-to-crypto onramp to buy digital assets with credit cards or Apple Pay inside the non-custodial Coinbase Wallet.

Disclaimer: The Block is a customer of Remote.