March 2025 (Claymont, USA) – MilX Analytics, led by CEO Paul Lekhnovsky and co-founded by Sergii Bielousov, reveals key shifts in YouTube creators’ payment preferences, highlighting the rise of crypto and fintech solutions over traditional banking methods.
We’ve spent the last few months analyzing data from Paul Lekhnovsky, CEO of the MilX Finance Hub, and uncovering how YouTube creators manage their money in 2025. Spoiler: things are changing, fast.
If you’ve been living under the assumption that YouTubers rely primarily on bank transfers, it’s time for a reality check. Don’t get us wrong, banks still have the lion’s share of all transactions. But the payment preferences of creators have shifted, with crypto, specifically stablecoins, leading the growth curve. And that’s not the only insight we uncovered.
Let’s get into how YouTube creators are getting paid in 2025.
The YouTubers Payment Methods Shake-Up
YouTube’s payment system is tied to banks and checks with a single local currency option. Meanwhile, fintech for creators doesn’t sleep, giving them the flexibility to transfer funds using over 10 methods and 40+ currencies.
A quick look at the 2023 vs 2024 data from 3,140 MilX users across the U.S., EU, LATAM, and more reveals some trends:
Bank Transfers
Down 40% in volume for YouTubers. Creators use them for large transactions, but the frequency dropped by 8%. The patience for slow payouts is wearing thin.
Visa/Mastercard Payouts
Up 17% in volume and 13% in transaction count. More creators are choosing direct-to-card payments, likely for the speed and ease.
Crypto
The breakout winner. Volume is up 33%, transactions have skyrocketed by 41%. Stablecoins (not Bitcoin) are leading the charge.
USDT (Tether) dominates USDC (Circle) among creators. The why? Higher liquidity, wider acceptance, and lower friction in global transactions.
Payoneer
A quiet gainer. Volume is up 5%, but transaction count surged 39%. Creators are increasingly using it for smaller, frequent payouts.
PayPal
Down 12% in volume, with transaction counts flat (+0.6%). Still around, but losing the dominance.
Speed, cost, and flexibility drive creator payment choices. YouTubers shy away from payment methods that are slow, costly, or difficult to use across multiple currencies.
“When it comes to big payouts, bank transfers remain the top choice. Speed isn’t their strong suit, but they’re preferred for large transactions,” said Sergii Bielousov, Co-founder & Investor at MilX.
Extra Cash Before YouTube’s Payday
Creators aren’t waiting around for YouTube’s monthly payouts anymore. 48.3% of MilX users have used Advance Payments at least once, withdrawing future earnings early to cover immediate needs. Even more telling: over 19% unlocked up to six months of future revenue.
For context:
- YouTube payouts make creators wait up to two months to access their earnings.
- Traditional bank loans? Creators don’t usually qualify under conventional lending models.
- Advance access is a bridge to faster growth, and creators are using it to get ahead.
Creators are not hobbyists relying solely on ad revenue. They’re running businesses, and like for any business, cash flow matters.
YouTube Creators Want Money Now
YouTube creators operate in real time. They need to pay freelancers, fund ad campaigns, and reinvest quickly.
- 59.18% of MilX users have used Instant Payments at least once.
- Instant transfers accounted for 48% of all transactions over the last 9 months.
- Nearly half of users request funds within 5 minutes.
All the data shows that payment flexibility is a top priority for creators. The free MilX app for iOS or Android lets you explore different ways to access and transfer money—so you can choose what works best for you.
About MilX
MilX is a fintech startup backed by a strategic investment from AIR Media-Tech, an industry leader with over 30 specialized tools and services for creators. The free MilX mobile app provides financial services for YouTube creators, offering seamless money transfers from YouTube earnings through 10+ payment methods, including crypto, P2P transfers, regular payments, and instant transactions.
One of the most popular features among creators is Active Funds, which allows them to receive up to 6 months of monetization in advance. This gives creators the opportunity to reinvest in their content and grow their YouTube channels.
- CEO & Co-founder: Paul Lekhnovsky
- Co-founders & investors: Sergii Bielousov (AIR Media-Tech) and Stepan Mykhailov (AIR Media-Tech)
- Achievements: Over 3,000 YouTubers use MilX, and the project has had a constant revenue CAGR of 99% for the past number of years.
Description: In this article, we share insights about payment trends observed from our 3,138 creators during this financial year.
Contact Information:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +44 7457 414506
