Cross-border Payments

Visa launched a pilot allowing US marketplaces to pay freelancers and creators in stablecoins such as USDC. It aims to make cross-border payments faster and more direct through instant transfers to crypto wallets.

Block Inc.’s Square platform now lets over four million merchants accept Bitcoin using the Lightning Network, enabling near-instant payments and low fees. Bitcoin-related transactions contributed nearly $2 billion to the company’s revenue, highlighting growing adoption of crypto in everyday commerce.

Bybit Pay, the payments arm of the world’s second-largest crypto exchange, has officially set foot in Sri Lanka after launching operation in a country where tourism and crypto meets.

StraitsX is expanding its stablecoin network to link Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, and Japan, enabling real-time cross-border payments from 2026. The system will let travellers and merchants use local wallets while settlements happen instantly in domestic currencies, with XSGD facilitating the transactions behind the scenes.

Gemini has launched a Solana-themed credit card that lets users earn SOL rewards and automatically stake them for up to 6.77% APY. The card offers no fees and supports instant payouts in over 50 cryptocurrencies, combining lifestyle partnerships with crypto rewards.

Singapore merchants can now accept stablecoin payments through HitPay and Triple-A. Payments are instantly converted to fiat, letting businesses receive funds quickly and securely.

Stripe has launched a new feature allowing US businesses to accept recurring payments in stablecoins like USDC, USDP, and USDG across multiple blockchains. The system uses smart contracts for easier payments, supports over 400 wallets, and lets companies receive fiat settlements while managing subscriptions from their Stripe dashboard.

Steak ‘n Shake has scrapped its plans to accept Ethereum (ETH) payments after a fierce backlash from Bitcoin (BTC) supporters, exposing the deep-rooted tribal divide that continues to shape the digital asset world.

Venezuelan opposition leader and pro-democracy icon María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, recognized not only for her unyielding battle for freedom but also for her embrace of Bitcoin as a tool of human rights and resistance.

A ruble-backed stablecoin linked to a sanctioned Russian bank appeared at Singapore’s Token2049 conference, raising questions about compliance. Despite U.S. and U.K. sanctions, the coin continues to operate and gain use in international markets, showing the challenge of enforcing rules across borders.