Western Union Files WUUSD Trademark for New Stablecoin

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database reveals two distinct filings from Western Union: one for USDPT, matching the company’s public announcements, and another for WUUSD that has not been officially acknowledged. According to the USPTO filing, the WUUSD trademark application has been accepted by the office and has met minimum filing requirements but awaits full examination for approval. The filing specifies that WUUSD would cover stablecoin payment processing, payments processing, and foreign currency exchange services—core competencies for the global payments company.

This dual filing strategy creates uncertainty about Western Union’s exact branding approach. While US trademark approvals typically take several months depending on complexity, the existence of two separate trademark applications for similar services raises questions about whether Western Union is hedging its branding bets or planning multiple products. The company’s announcement about creating “real-world utility for digital assets” through its digital asset network provides little clarification about whether this ecosystem might include multiple tokens or overlapping projects.

Western Union’s approach mirrors strategies employed by other major players in the cryptocurrency space. Companies like Tether and Circle issue multiple stablecoins pegged to different assets including the dollar, euro, Chinese yuan, and commodities like gold. Similarly, Paxos issues both USDP and PYUSD stablecoins, while Binance has launched BUSD and FDUSD under different issuers or reserve structures. Sometimes the same stablecoin hosted on different blockchains can even have different tickers, adding another layer of complexity to the landscape.

Rajiv Sawhney, head of international portfolio management at Wave Digital Assets, suggests the mysterious WUUSD filing might represent a straightforward branding solution rather than indicating multiple products. “WUUSD could be the public-facing ticker or symbol, while USDPT remains the regulatory and issuance name used in filings and technical contracts,” Sawhney explains. He adds that Western Union may have “figured that USDPT is a clunky, unrecognizable name, while Western Union USD is much more recognizable.” However, Sawhney admits the true motivation behind the dual filings remains unclear at this stage.

Western Union’s entry into the stablecoin market represents a significant bridge between traditional finance and digital assets. The company’s planned launch on the Solana blockchain in the first part of 2026 positions it to leverage the network’s speed and scalability for payment processing. This move could potentially revolutionize how Western Union handles cross-border payments and currency exchanges, areas where the company has established dominance over its 170-year history.

The timing of Western Union’s stablecoin initiative coincides with optimistic market projections about the sector’s growth. According to a Myriad prediction market—a unit of Dastan, the parent company of editorially independent Decrypt—more than 50% of respondents believe the stablecoin market value will hit $360 billion before February. This projected growth underscores the significant opportunity Western Union is targeting with its digital asset network and stablecoin offerings, whether branded as USDPT, WUUSD, or both.

As the trademark applications proceed through the USPTO review process, the financial industry will be watching closely to see how Western Union navigates the balance between regulatory compliance and consumer-friendly branding. The company’s ability to successfully integrate digital assets into its existing global payment infrastructure could set important precedents for other traditional financial institutions considering similar moves into the cryptocurrency space.