​​Western Union’s ‘WUUSD’ trademark hints at crypto offerings

Major financial services company Western Union has filed for a trademark covering multiple crypto services just a day after sharing it would launch a stablecoin system on Solana early next year.

Western Union Holdings, Inc. filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office to trademark “WUUSD” on Wednesday, covering a range of crypto services related to stablecoins. The filing notes that the agency has accepted it, but it has yet to be assigned to an examiner.

The filing states that the WUUSD trademark could be used for a crypto wallet, crypto trading and stablecoin payment processing, among other things.

Western Union announced its stablecoin, called the US Dollar Payment Token (USDPT), on an investor call on Oct. 23, and shared on Tuesday that the token would launch on the Solana blockchain in the first half of 2026.

The company added that it would also launch a Digital Asset Network in partnership with Anchorage Digital Bank that would act as a cash off-ramp for its stablecoin service.

It’s currently unclear what the differences are between WUUSD and USDPT, as Western Union also lodged an identical trademark filing for USDPT in early October.

Western Union did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The filing for WUUSD details that it could be used for stablecoin exchange and trading services, alongside “stablecoin payment processing.”

The filing hints at a wider array of crypto service offerings, mentioning the trademark’s use for software that manages and verifies crypto transactions, or in software “for spending and trading cryptocurrency.”

Crypto exchange, trading and payment processing services are also listed in the filing, alongside “financial brokerage services for cryptocurrency trading.”

Of note is the filing’s mention of crypto lending services, which it adds is “namely, conducting a securities and derivatives exchange,” which could be a significant departure from Western Union’s typical send and receive services.

Payment and banking service providers have been eyeing the broader adoption of stablecoins since the US passed the GENIUS Act in July, which provides increased clarity on how companies can offer US dollar-tied stablecoins.