DoorDash Inc. is integrating with the Tempo blockchain to power stablecoin payouts for its gig workers and merchants across more than 40 countries, a move that represents one of the largest-scale adoptions of stablecoins for practical, real-world payment infrastructure. The initiative aims to solve the complexities of global payments for its three-sided marketplace.
"If we can get merchants and Dashers their money faster, and do that in a way that's affordable for them, that's a no-brainer for the entire ecosystem,” DoorDash co-founder Andy Fang said in a statement. He highlighted the challenge of managing different currencies, payment rails, and regulatory requirements as a key driver for exploring a blockchain-based solution.
The new infrastructure, built on the Stripe and Paradigm-backed Tempo network, will focus on areas where stablecoins offer immediate advantages. According to Tempo, payments on its network can settle in under a second, a significant improvement over the one to three business days typical for traditional bank transfers. This speed, combined with reduced foreign currency spreads and intermediary fees, is central to the project.
This partnership signals a clear trend of stablecoins moving from crypto-native speculation into the core of enterprise payment systems. For a marketplace of DoorDash’s size, the effort treats stablecoins as a direct upgrade to the speed and efficiency of money itself. "We’re in the early stages and taking a thoughtful approach to ensure anything we build is reliable, compliant, and meaningfully improves the payout experience," a DoorDash representative told Decrypt.
Tempo's Growing Enterprise Adoption
DoorDash has been a design partner with Tempo since September 2025, but it is not alone in building on the new payments-focused blockchain. Since its mainnet launch in March 2026, Tempo has attracted a number of major financial and technology firms looking to improve their payment flows.
Visa recently announced it is operating a validator node on the Tempo network, allowing it to directly participate in the blockchain's security and operation. Other early design partners and users include Shopify, OpenAI, Coastal Community Bank, and Fifth Third Bank. This growing ecosystem highlights a broader institutional shift toward using stablecoin-based rails for mainstream financial operations, from payroll to machine-to-machine payments.
The Broader Shift to Stablecoin Payments
The initiative fits into a wider industry pattern of integrating stablecoins into global payment networks to reduce friction. Circle, the issuer of USD Coin (USDC), has been actively expanding its partnerships. The company recently teamed with fintech firm Nium to enable USDC-funded payouts in over 190 countries and with Thunes to extend stablecoin settlement across its 140-country network.
These moves aim to solve the long-standing challenge of pre-funded liquidity, where companies must hold significant capital in local currencies across multiple jurisdictions. By using stablecoins like USDC—the second-largest stablecoin with a market capitalization of around $78 billion, according to DefiLlama—for just-in-time settlement, companies can improve capital efficiency and reduce settlement risk.
Implications and Challenges Ahead
If DoorDash's implementation proves successful, it could establish a new standard for how gig economy platforms pay their global workforce, accelerating the adoption of digital currencies for everyday earnings. The focus on a practical use case—getting money to workers faster and cheaper—could help normalize crypto-based payments for a mainstream audience.
However, significant challenges remain. DoorDash will need to create a seamless wallet and user experience for Dashers who may have no familiarity with cryptocurrencies. Furthermore, the company must navigate the complex and varied landscape of tax reporting, compliance, and regulatory requirements for crypto assets across all 40+ countries in its rollout. The success of the project will depend heavily on abstracting this complexity away from the end-user, a challenge highlighted by Poland's recent struggles with implementing the EU's MiCA framework.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
