Western Union Files WUUSD Trademark, Eyes Blockchain Innovations

• Western Union filed a trademark for WUUSD following plans for the USDPT stablecoin.
• Analysts highlight remittance benefits including reduced costs and inflation protection.

On October 29, 2025, The Block reported Western Union’s trademark filing for "WUUSD," signaling its expansion into blockchain-based payments. This trademark filing came a day after the company announced its plans to launch a separate stablecoin, USDPT, using the Solana blockchain. While the exact purpose of WUUSD remains unspecified, the filing covers services such as cryptocurrency wallet software, payment processing, and trading capabilities. This move could either represent efforts to create a consumer-friendly brand or serve as a placeholder for broader digital asset endeavors.

Western Union plans to launch its first stablecoin, U.S. Dollar Payment Token (USDPT), during the first half of 2026. The company has chosen Solana as the technical foundation due to its high transaction speeds and low operating costs, which align with the requirements of managing large-scale remittance activities. USDPT will be issued by Anchorage Digital Bank, a federally chartered crypto bank, as part of a new infrastructure termed the "Digital Asset Network." This platform aims to bridge fiat currencies with blockchain-based assets, enabling users worldwide to send, receive, and store stablecoins within Western Union's established ecosystem.

Financial analysts view stablecoins as a transformative tool for the global remittance industry. In a client report dated October 28, William Blair highlighted how stablecoins can improve settlement efficiency, reduce costs, and protect recipients from the adverse effects of inflation in unstable economies. Stablecoins backed by the U.S. dollar offer remittance receivers a safeguard against currency devaluation, ensuring greater purchasing power in cross-border transactions.

Beyond addressing economic challenges, Western Union's stablecoin initiative opens new revenue streams from transaction fees, stablecoin issuance, and foreign exchange spreads. The adoption of stablecoins will also accelerate settlement times and lower liquidity demands, such as pre-funding for distribution partners. This strategy marks Western Union's most substantial commitment to blockchain technology since its initial experiments with Ripple in 2018, positioning itself as a competitor to industry leaders like PayPal and Visa, who have already integrated stablecoins into their payment systems.

As of October 30, 2025, 15:05 UTC, Solana (SOL) is trading at $187.36, reflecting a 6.41% drop over the past 24 hours, according to market data from CoinMarketCap.