Western Union to launch USDPT in May

Western Union said its USDPT stablecoin is set to launch in May 2026, putting a public-blockchain product from a legacy remittance company on a near-term schedule. (westernunion.com) (decrypt.co) USDPT stands for U.S. Dollar Payment Token. Western Union said on October 28, 2025 that the token would run on Solana and be issued by Anchorage Digital Bank. (westernunion.com) A stablecoin is a digital token designed to stay at $1, like a poker chip backed by cash-like reserves instead of a floating crypto price. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said in April 2025 that some dollar stablecoins are marketed as redeemable one-for-one with U.S. dollars and backed by low-risk, liquid reserves. (sec.gov) Western Union said USDPT is part of a broader Digital Asset Network that would link crypto wallets to cash off-ramps in its global agent network. A separate filing tied to the rollout said users would be able to off-ramp stablecoins to cash at more than 360,000 Western Union retail locations worldwide. (westernunion.com) (sec.gov) Western Union’s October 2025 announcement said USDPT would arrive in the first half of 2026. The new May target turns that broad window into a specific month. (westernunion.com) (decrypt.co) The company has framed stablecoins as a settlement tool as much as a consumer product. Decrypt reported the token is meant to serve as an alternative to SWIFT for agent settlements rather than everyday retail payments. (decrypt.co) Western Union has been preparing investors for a broader digital-assets push for months. Chief executive Devin McGranahan said in an August 2025 company post that stablecoins were opening new ways to move money across borders more easily and affordably. (westernunion.com) The stablecoin plan lands as Western Union is still reshaping its core business. In its annual report, the company said 2025 revenue was $4.1 billion and highlighted a digital-first “Beyond” strategy it unveiled in November 2025. (sec.gov) Western Union has not yet published a new standalone press release on its investor site announcing the May date. But the company’s prior first-half 2026 guidance, combined with multiple April 27 reports citing management’s latest timeline, points to a launch window measured in weeks, not quarters. (westernunion.com) (decrypt.co)