HR and payroll platform Gusto, which serves over 400,000 small and medium-sized businesses, has partnered with crypto infrastructure firm ZeroHash to introduce stablecoin payouts for international contractors.

The collaboration comes as distributed workforces become the norm. According to ZeroHash's announcement, at least one-third of U.S. small businesses now outsource operations internationally, with 11% employing contractors abroad in 2025. A staggering 75% of small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) plan to expand their global hiring to tap into specialized talent pools. However, traditional payment systems have lagged behind, often imposing delays of three to seven days due to intermediaries, banking hours, and currency conversions.

"Work has changed faster than payroll," the announcement states, highlighting how contractors frequently face fees, opacity, and restricted access to earnings. By leveraging ZeroHash's blockchain-based infrastructure, Gusto users can now opt for payouts in digital dollars, stablecoins pegged to the U.S. dollar, that settle almost instantly, 24/7, without the constraints of traditional banking.

This shift is particularly timely amid the booming contractor economy. Data cited in the release shows the number of full-time independent contractors in the U.S. more than doubled from 13.6 million in 2020 to 27.7 million in 2024, fueling demands for faster, more flexible compensation.
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https://zerohash.com/blog/gusto-launches-with-zerohash-to-bring-stablecoin-payouts-to-global-payroll