Cross-border Payments

Two former Citadel engineers have launched Fin, a stablecoin-based app for fast and low-cost high-value cross-border payments. The startup has raised 17 million dollars and plans to pilot the service for businesses that regularly transfer large sums internationally.

Visa has expanded its stablecoin settlement in parts of Europe, the Middle East and Africa by working with Aquanow, allowing banks to move money using USDC. This shifts payments behind the scenes by making cross-border transfers faster and less dependent on traditional banking hours and middlemen.

South Africa’s central bank is saying no to crypto after calling the digital asset a new risk to the country's financial system. In a report released on Tuesday, the South African central bank noted the growing popularity of crypto in the country, quoting a total of 7.8 million people who are active users.

UBS and Ant International are joining forces to launch a deposit-tokenization initiative in Singapore, marking one of the most ambitious attempts yet to modernize cross-border treasury flows using blockchain.

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.