Western Union, one of the world’s largest money transfer companies, is signaling a decisive shift toward digital assets. At the UBS Global Technology and AI conference, CFO Matthew Cagwin introduced a strategy that aims to take the company beyond traditional remittances and position it among leading providers of digital asset services. The plan includes launching a stable card for inflation-stricken economies, developing an in-house digital coin, and building a new stablecoin infrastructure on the Blockchain Solana network.

Economies with 200%+ inflation at the front of the line

Cagwin noted that in countries such as Argentina, where annual inflation reaches 250–300%, traditional money transfers rapidly lose value. “Imagine your family in the U.S. sends you $500, but a month later it’s worth only $300,” he said. The stable card is designed to solve exactly this problem by preserving value through digital assets tied to a stable currency.

The new card will build on Western Union’s existing U.S. prepaid card, but its integration of stablecoins will provide a far more resilient option for users navigating extreme inflation.

Western Union wants its own coin, relying on its unmatched distribution network

Another key pillar is the creation of an in-house token. Western Union argues that its infrastructure in more than 200 countries provides a unique advantage.
“We believe we can build a strong market for our coin in these economies. We want to control the project’s economics, compliance, and distribution,” Cagwin said.

This would position Western Union not only as a facilitator of transfers, but as an operator of a full digital-asset ecosystem.

Digital Asset Network: bridging on/off-ramp partners

A significant part of the strategy is the Digital Asset Network (DAN), which will connect Western Union with four major on/off-ramp providers. The network is expected to launch in the first half of 2026, enabling faster, cheaper cross-border payments and easier access to digital assets.

Sources:

https://seekingalpha.com/article/4849586-the-western-union-company-wu-presents-at-ubs-global-technology-and-ai-conference-2025

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251028647920/en/Western-Union-Announces-USDPT-Stablecoin-on-Solana-and-Digital-Asset-Network