Why Speed Matters: Gusto and Zerohash Reshape Global Compensation Volume with Stablecoins

The modern workforce operates at digital speed, yet traditional payment systems haven’t kept up. HR and payroll platform Gusto has partnered with crypto infrastructure provider Zerohash to address a fundamental challenge facing businesses with global teams—the slow, friction-filled process of compensating international and contingent workers through conventional channels.

The Speed Problem in Cross-Border Payroll

Today’s cross-border payroll payments typically require three to seven days to settle, creating real cash flow challenges for contractors and administrative headaches for employers. According to recent industry data, approximately one-third of U.S. small businesses now outsource at least one role, and Gusto’s own 2025 research indicates that 11% of small businesses employ international contractors. Despite this growing volume of international compensation transactions, the underlying infrastructure hasn’t evolved to match business demands. Companies managing global teams face constant friction: delays in fund transfers, currency conversion inefficiencies, and the complexity of navigating multiple payment systems across jurisdictions.

Stablecoins Enable Faster Compensation at Scale

To solve this speed problem, Gusto has integrated Zerohash’s regulated stablecoin infrastructure, enabling faster global payouts for eligible contractors. The integration, currently in beta, allows workers to receive earnings in U.S. dollar-denominated stablecoins with settlement times measured in minutes rather than days. This represents a fundamental shift in how compensation volume can be managed across borders.

Stablecoins like Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC serve as payment rails, allowing funds to move globally at near-instant speeds. Unlike traditional financial networks that route payments through multiple intermediaries, stablecoin-based transfers settle onchain with full traceability and regulatory compliance. “As the workforce increasingly becomes more global and more digital, traditional payment rails can no longer meet the speed and accessibility that modern businesses require,” said Edward Woodford, founder and CEO of Zerohash, in a recent statement.

Real-Time Settlement Transforms Contractor Payments

The technical infrastructure supporting this speed includes both custodial and self-custodial digital wallet options, giving workers choice in how they access their compensation. Payments settle onchain with support from regulated entities operating across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring compliance and security. This approach mirrors the broader fintech trend toward onchain settlement for payments and payroll, where the speed advantage becomes increasingly critical as business volume expands globally.

What This Means for Small Business Compensation Strategies

For businesses managing large volumes of international contractors, the implications are significant. Gusto serves more than 400,000 small business employers, many of whom face the same cross-border compensation challenges. Faster settlement speeds mean improved cash flow for contractors, reduced administrative overhead for employers, and the ability to offer competitive compensation packages to global talent. The shift toward blockchain-based payment infrastructure represents a meaningful evolution in how businesses think about speed, volume, and accessibility in global compensation management.

This integration suggests that stablecoins are moving beyond speculative trading into practical infrastructure for real business processes—particularly where speed and scale intersect with global commerce.