These issues took centre stage at the 2026 E-Commerce and Payments Forum organised by the Africa Retail Academy of Lagos Business School (LBS), where senior operators, regulators, innovators, and decision-makers gathered to discuss practical strategies for accelerating commercial growth across Africa.

Held under the theme “Minimising Friction, Maximising Commercial Impact,” the forum was convened by Olu Akanmu, CEO Board Advisor and Executive-in-Residence at Lagos Business School, and Elo Umeh, CEO of Terragon and Executive-in-Residence at LBS; and featured insightful contributions from leading industry experts, including Melvin Onochie, Vice President, Omni-Channel Sales and Commercial Planning at Konga Group; Damilare Ogunnaike, Vice President at Moniepoint Group, Kenny Isichie, Head of Business Operation at Bumpa; Professor Uchenna Uzo; Seun Alley; Charles Ejekam; and a few other senior managers.

Delivering the keynote address, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh, chief executive officer of Konga Group, challenged African businesses to rethink their approach to technology adoption, particularly in payments and cross-border commerce.

According to Prince, Nigeria has already made remarkable progress in digital payments and fintech innovation, earning global recognition as one of the world’s leading markets for cryptocurrency adoption.

However, he argued that widespread adoption by businesses in Nigeria remains significantly behind consumer usage.

“Nigeria has gone very far in online transactions and fintech innovation. The progress made by institutions such as NIBSS and the broader fintech ecosystem deserves commendation. However, there is still substantial work to be done if we are to unlock seamless international trade and scale commerce across Africa,” he noted.

One of the key themes of his presentation was the growing relevance of stablecoins in modern commerce.

While cryptocurrencies often generate mixed reactions due to concerns around volatility and regulation, Prince emphasized that stablecoins represent one of the most practical and valuable innovations emerging from the broader crypto ecosystem.

“People often become nervous when they hear the word crypto,” he said. “But every technology has two sides. Artificial Intelligence, for example, is creating enormous value, yet it can also be misused. The same principle applies to crypto. The focus should be on how we leverage the positive side of technology to create productivity, improve efficiency, and solve real business problems.”

Drawing from Konga’s experience, Prince explained how the company has successfully leveraged stablecoin infrastructure to improve business operations, access liquidity more efficiently, and overcome some of the payment challenges associated with cross-border transactions.

“Konga invested heavily in building its own infrastructure because we recognised a problem that needed solving. By tapping into available liquidity and embracing emerging technologies responsibly, we have been able to improve business processes and unlock new opportunities for growth,” he stated.

A recurring issue during the forum was trust. Participants examined how regulators, businesses, and technology providers can work together to increase confidence in digital assets and emerging payment technologies.

Addressing this concern, Prince acknowledged that trust remains a legitimate challenge but expressed optimism about ongoing regulatory developments.

“There are already guardrails being established. Both the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Securities and Exchange Commission are working collaboratively to create a more structured and transparent regulatory framework. That is an important step toward building confidence and encouraging responsible innovation,” he said.

He also highlighted the need for a broader mindset shift among businesses and consumers. Using a personal example, Prince recounted how he recently completed a transaction with a roadside vendor through a digital transfer, illustrating how rapidly consumer behaviour is evolving.

“The reality is that Nigerians are already embracing digital payments in everyday life. Businesses must evolve at the same pace. We need to move beyond old assumptions about cash and fully embrace the efficiencies that digital transactions offer,” he remarked.

On logistics and delivery, Onochie stressed that reducing friction across the entire customer journey, from payment to fulfilment and pricing, remains essential for sustainable growth in e-commerce.

He noted that businesses that successfully align convenience, speed, trust, and competitive pricing will be best positioned to thrive in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

The forum concluded with a consensus that Africa’s commerce future will be shaped not only by technology itself but by how effectively organisations deploy innovation to solve practical challenges.

For Prince the opportunity is clear. Africa already possesses the entrepreneurial talent, consumer demand, and technological foundation required for transformation.

The next step is creating the infrastructure, regulatory clarity, and business confidence needed to scale those advantages across borders.

As digital commerce continues to evolve, his message resonated strongly with attendees: the future belongs to organisations that embrace innovation responsibly, reduce friction relentlessly, and build systems that enable trade without boundaries.

The post Prince Nnamdi Ekeh Says Stablecoins Can Catalyze Africa’s Commerce Revolution appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The financial infrastructure company has launched Bitnob Enterprise, a non-custodial infrastructure platform designed to banks, fintechs, treasury teams and other institutions build digital asset products while maintaining control of their custody architecture, governance and risk-management systems.

The new platform allows organisations to access Bitnob’s wallet, payment, treasury, settlement, and blockchain infrastructure without transferring custody of assets to the company.

Bitnob launched publicly in 2021 as a consumer Bitcoin app. Over time, the infrastructure built to power its own products attracted growing interest from businesses, leading the company to increasingly focus on wallets-as-a-service, payments, stablecoin settlement, collections, payouts, and card infrastructure. Today, more than $4.5 billion has moved through its infrastructure.

As adoption grew, Bitnob saw customer needs split. Some wanted a managed platform that removed operational complexity and accelerated time to market. Others wanted to own the parts of the business that define them, such as custody, key management, risk, and governance. Bitnob Enterprise was built for the second group.

“The next generation of financial institutions won’t outsource the things that define them, including how assets are secured, how risk is managed, how their customers are served,” said Bernard Parah, Founder and CEO of Bitnob. “Enterprise gives them the infrastructure layer underneath Bitnob without asking them to give up control.”

Enterprise supports non-custodial deployment, including external key management through HSMs, AWS KMS, and third-party signing systems.

Customers run their own treasury controls, approval workflows, transaction policies, compliance and security frameworks while leveraging Bitnob for wallets, blockchain connectivity, treasury operations, stablecoin settlement, and embedded financial services.

The platform is built for banks, regulated financial institutions, fintechs, treasury teams, and developers building infrastructure-intensive financial products.

For organisations entering the market, Enterprise is a path to launch digital asset products without spending years building blockchain infrastructure internally. For larger institutions, it is a way to add digital asset capabilities to existing compliance and operational environments while keeping control of customer relationships and internal governance.

Alongside Enterprise, Bitnob is introducing major upgrades to Bitnob Business, its managed platform first launched in 2022. The updated platform adds enhanced stablecoin swap capabilities including USDT-to-USDC conversion, off-ramp coverage across more than 110 countries, and a growing base of on-ramp coverage.

Together, the two products offer two ways into the same infrastructure: a managed platform for businesses that prioritise simplicity and speed, and an infrastructure layer for organisations that prioritise ownership and control.

The launch comes as businesses increasingly adopt stablecoin infrastructure for treasury, cross-border payments, and supplier settlement, and as institutions look to participate without compromising their existing governance, security, and operational requirements.

Bitnob Business and Bitnob Enterprise are available free beginning today. For more information, visit website or schedule a call with the sales team

About Bitnob

Founded in 2020, Bitnob is a financial infrastructure company helping businesses build, move, and manage money globally.

Through APIs and managed infrastructure, Bitnob powers wallets-as-a-service, payments, treasury operations, stablecoin settlement, card programs, collections, payouts, and embedded financial services for businesses across global markets.

The post Bitnob Launches Enterprise: Non-Custodial Infrastructure for Institutions appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The partnership will focus on developing practical, compliant applications for stablecoin payments across four key verticals: cross-border remittances, B2B settlement, digital loyalty ecosystems, and treasury management.

Both companies will work with banks, financial institutions, and regulatory stakeholders to pilot solutions designed to improve payment efficiency, reduce settlement friction, and lower costs for businesses and consumers.

Nigeria is one of the partnership’s initial focus markets, alongside Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.

The collaboration will establish joint working groups to identify high-impact use cases and create interoperable solutions within the Mastercard network that connect traditional financial infrastructure with blockchain-powered payments.

Speaking on the significance of the partnership for Nigeria and the broader African market, Lasbery C. Oludimu, vice president of Operations and Managing Director for Yellow Card Nigeria, said:

“For markets in Africa, the real opportunity is to improve how value moves within and across borders, especially for remittances, B2B settlement, treasury management, and digital asset security. Mastercard and Yellow Card are exploring these use cases across key markets, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and the UAE.”

“This collaboration is designed to create interoperable solutions between traditional finance and blockchain payments within the Mastercard network, enhancing payment efficiency and reducing costs for businesses and consumers in Nigeria and other emerging markets.”

Oludimu added that the partnership represents an important shift in how stablecoins are being viewed within the financial ecosystem.

“For Nigeria specifically, the practical change is that stablecoins can move from being seen mainly as a crypto product to becoming part of the broader payment infrastructure. When a global financial network like Mastercard works with a stablecoin infrastructure provider like Yellow Card, it helps create a bridge between traditional finance and blockchain-powered payments.”

The partnership comes at a time when stablecoins are seeing increasing institutional interest globally, particularly for cross-border payments and treasury operations.

Across Africa, businesses and consumers continue to face high remittance costs, foreign exchange challenges, and fragmented payment infrastructure, creating growing demand for faster and more efficient financial rails.

“Stablecoins are an exciting and useful option for some payments, and we look forward to working on additional use cases with Yellow Card, while continuing to leverage Mastercard’s expertise to make stablecoins seamless and secure,” said Mete Güney, executive vice president, Market Development, EEMEA, Mastercard.

“Together we look forward to taking digital finance into a new sphere, unlocking new efficiencies in cross-border trade, business-to-business settlements, and digital asset security, to generate a wide-ranging positive impact across the financial ecosystem,” the Executive Vice President added.

The collaboration builds on Mastercard’s growing blockchain and digital asset ecosystem, alongside Yellow Card’s footprint as one of Africa’s leading stablecoin infrastructure providers operating across more than 20 African markets.

Both companies say the partnership reflects a shared focus on utility-driven digital asset innovation and the development of secure, scalable payment infrastructure for emerging markets.

The post Mastercard, Yellow Card Partner to Drive Stablecoin Payments in Nigeria, Other African Markets appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Designed to enable businesses collect funds in naira or stablecoins and send payouts to the United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria, the new system handles foreign exchange conversion instantly and locks in rates at the point of transaction.

For years, operators in this space have had to manage cash on two fronts. They collect in naira, then look for foreign currency elsewhere, while also keeping reserves ready for payouts. That process ties down capital and slows transactions.

Nomba says its new API removes that limitation by merging collection, conversion and disbursement into one flow. Once funds enter the system, either in naira or stablecoins such as USDT or USDC, conversion happens immediately and the payout begins without delay.

“Running a cross-border payments business from Nigeria has meant managing frozen liquidity on two fronts at the same time,” said Yinka Adewale, CEO, Nomba.

“Operators collect naira, then go source foreign currency, all while their customers are waiting. We built this API to collapse that operational complexity into a single transaction flow, and to give operators who want to remove naira exposure entirely the option to fund in stablecoins.”

Outlining how the payout routes work, the company noted that transfers to the UK go through Faster Payments, with settlement taking between one and three hours.

In Europe, SEPA transfers are completed in under one hour, while Canada supports Interac for instant transfers alongside bank payments. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, users can send money through mobile money or bank transfers, both processed instantly. Nigeria, meanwhile, is the base corridor.

Another feature is a five-minute exchange rate lock. This ensures the rate a customer sees at the start of a transaction stays the same at settlement, reducing disputes and unexpected losses.

The launch comes at a time when cross-border payments in Africa are expensive. On average, sending $200 costs about 7.9%, one of the highest rates globally. At the same time, stablecoins are gaining ground.

They now account for a large share of crypto transactions in sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigeria alone handling billions of dollars in volume over the past year.

On the regulatory aspect, Nigeria’s tax policies treat foreign exchange conversions, service fees and digital charges as taxable events since the start of 2026. This is forcing payment companies to build systems that can handle compliance automatically.

Nomba, which started in 2016 as Kudi, has moved from agency banking into payment infrastructure. In 2025, it processed N122 billion across 1.85 million transactions. Its virtual accounts now account for most of its API activity.

With the new Global Payout API, Nomba is targeting a long-standing problem in the market, cutting out the need to hold funds in multiple currencies at once. The company is ensuring payment firms can move faster and operate with less capital tied up.

The post Nomba Launches Global Payout API to Simplify Cross-Border Payments for Nigerian Businesses appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The fintech platform, powered entirely by stablecoins, is designed to address long-standing challenges faced by freelancers, remote workers, students, and travellers across the continent.

Speaking on the limitations of traditional banking systems for Africans with cross-border income streams, Ayo Adewuyi, Pouchers’ CEO, said,

“Many people we spoke with were constantly frustrated by blocked cards, slow transfers, and unexpected declines. We wanted to build a system that works the way users actually live: across time zones, across currencies, and across platforms.”

Pouchers enables users to create up to three virtual cards, including standard Visa and Mastercard options and a premium card compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay. According to the Pouchers’ team, this approach is aimed at improving global acceptance and reducing payment failures that many Africans encounter when transacting online with international platforms such as Netflix, Amazon, or flight booking services.

All transactions on Pouchers are powered by stablecoins, specifically USDT and USDC, providing faster settlement and shielding users from the volatility of local currencies.

“By integrating stablecoins from the ground up, we can offer more reliability and predictability for cross-border spending, something traditional rails often fail to provide,” Adewuyi added.

In addition to virtual cards, Pouchers is rolling out multi-currency bank accounts in USD, EUR, GBP, and CAD.

The accounts allow users to hold multiple currencies in one place and switch between them in seconds, eliminating the common uncertainty over which account should receive a particular payment.

Analysts note that cross-border financial services are a growing concern for African freelancers and digital nomads, with delays and blocked transactions costing both time and income. According to a 2020 Report by the Financial Stability Board, four key challenges facing cross-border payments are high costs; low speed; limited access, and limited transparency.

These factors are no less true today, especially for Africans, and Pouchers aims to address these inadequacies through a quiet, iterative approach focused on solving real problems.

“We didn’t want to launch with noise or hype,” Adewuyi explained. “Instead, we listened closely to our early users, understood their pain points, and built solutions that improve steadily over time. That approach earns trust naturally.”

By combining stablecoin infrastructure with multiple virtual cards and multi-currency accounts, the platform is positioning itself as a practical tool for Africans who live and work globally but are underserved by traditional financial systems.

As the African gig economy and remote work sectors continue to expand, solutions like Pouchers may become increasingly important in ensuring smooth, reliable, and efficient financial interactions across borders.

The post Cross-border Payments Should Reflect How Africans Actually Live and Work – Pouchers CEO appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

With increasing demand for speed, accuracy, and reliability, users are no longer satisfied with slow withdrawals or unclear exchange rates.

They want a platform that allows them to convert bitcoin to naira instantly, without unnecessary delays or hidden deductions.

Monica Cash has emerged as a strong answer to that demand. Recognised by many users as the best crypto app in Nigeria, the platform has built its reputation on fast execution, transparent pricing, and consistent payouts. In a digital market where trust determines growth, that consistency has become its competitive advantage.

Selling bitcoin should not feel complicated. Users who monitor the bitcoin to naira rate today want clarity before committing to a transaction.

They want to see real-time pricing and know exactly what they will receive before confirming. Monica Cash provides competitive rates that are easy to track, giving users confidence when they decide to convert bitcoin to naira.

The transparency around pricing reduces uncertainty and allows users to make informed financial decisions.

Speed remains one of the platform’s strongest differentiators. Once users initiate a request to sell bitcoin in Nigeria, funds are processed quickly and transferred directly to their Nigerian bank accounts, often within minutes.

In a market where the bitcoin to naira rate today can fluctuate rapidly, fast settlements are not just convenient, they are financially strategic.

According to the Founder, simplicity has been central to the product design. “We understand that when someone wants to sell bitcoin in Nigeria, they want certainty.

They want to convert bitcoin to naira instantly and receive their funds without stress. Our focus has always been speed, transparency, and reliability.”

Beyond Bitcoin, Monica Cash also supports seamless USDT to naira transactions, giving users flexibility to convert stablecoins with the same efficiency.

For freelancers receiving payments in USDT, traders managing market positions, or entrepreneurs handling cross-border transactions, this feature strengthens Monica Cash’s positioning as the best crypto app in Nigeria for users dealing with multiple digital assets.

Security remains a major priority for individuals entering the crypto space. Many Nigerians are cautious about where they choose to convert bitcoin to naira due to concerns around fraud, account restrictions, or platform downtime.

Monica Cash addresses these concerns with secure login systems, protected transaction processes, and responsive customer support. The combination of speed and safety creates an experience that prioritises user confidence.

Another key advantage is convenience. The ability to check the bitcoin to naira rate today directly within the app removes the need to switch between multiple platforms.

Users can monitor rates, execute transactions, and receive funds in one streamlined process. This integration reduces friction and enhances overall trust in the system.

In addition, Monica Cash has positioned itself as more than just a transaction platform. By consistently delivering fast payouts and reliable USDT to naira conversions, it reinforces a reputation built on predictability.

In a volatile market environment, predictability becomes a powerful differentiator. Users return not only because they can sell bitcoin in Nigeria quickly, but because they know the experience will remain smooth each time.

As more Nigerians participate in digital asset markets, the demand for dependable crypto conversion platforms continues to rise.

Being labelled the best crypto app in Nigeria is not simply marketing language. It reflects performance, reliability, and user satisfaction each time someone chooses to sell bitcoin in Nigeria or convert bitcoin to naira.

For traders, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and everyday users who need a reliable way to convert bitcoin to naira quickly and securely, Monica Cash offers a solution built around speed, clarity, and trust.

If you are looking to sell bitcoin in Nigeria, check the bitcoin to naira rate today, process USDT to naira transactions, or convert bitcoin to naira instantly without delay, Monica Cash app provides the fast and secure experience more Nigerians are choosing every day.

The post More Nigerians Switch to Monica Cash for Instant Bitcoin to Naira and USDT to Naira Payments appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

By aggressively listing tokenized TradFi assets, maintaining true zero-fee trading on key pairs, and launching its innovative Gold Launchpad for seamless trading access to precious metals, MEXC is positioning itself as the premier gateway for the TradFi-crypto fusion.

Industry reports from Elliptic, the World Economic Forum, and leading analysts continue to project 2026 as the breakthrough year when TradFi and crypto fully merge into a single, unified financial ecosystem.

At the heart of this shift is Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization; the process of bringing off-chain assets like gold, silver, real estate, bonds, and commodities onto blockchain rails.

Tokenization unlocks liquidity, fractional ownership, and 24/7 global access to assets once reserved for institutions and high-net-worth individuals.

Pension funds, asset managers, and banks are allocating billions, with tokenized RWAs expected to attract massive inflows throughout the year.

Why Africa is at the Center of This Trend

Africa continues to lead global crypto adoption rankings, driven by necessity and innovation. Sub-Saharan Africa has seen explosive growth in crypto transactions, with stablecoins dominating for cross-border remittances, peer-to-peer payments, and inflation hedging. In 2026, the conversation is expanding beyond utility tokens into investment-grade assets.

African traders and investors are increasingly discussing tokenized real-world assets as a gateway to global markets.

Gold and silver, traditional safe-haven stores of value, resonate deeply in regions where currency volatility remains a challenge.

Tokenized versions offer the stability of precious metals combined with the speed and accessibility of crypto.

Regulatory progress in key markets like Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana is also creating fertile ground for institutional-grade products to flourish.

MEXC: The One-Stop Home Positioning Traders for the TradFi Wave

For African users looking to capitalize on this trend, platform choice matters. MEXC has emerged as the go-to destination, combining unmatched asset variety, industry-leading liquidity, and cost efficiency.

• Extensive TradFi-Related Listings: MEXC recently expanded its RWA offering with tokenized gold (XAUT) and silver (XAG) futures, launched with zero-fee trading to maximize capital efficiency. These assets bridge the stability of traditional safe-haven assets with the borderless nature of crypto markets, making them particularly relevant for African traders seeking portfolio diversification.
• True Zero-Fee Trading: MEXC maintains zero maker fees across spot trading and zero fees on hundreds of high-liquidity pairs, including major futures contracts. Recent campaigns like the Commodity Zero-Fee trading pairs have saved users millions in fees while delivering deep order books and minimal slippage. In a year when institutional inflows will drive volatility, cost efficiency is a decisive edge.
• One-Stop Home for All Assets: With thousands of listed tokens spanning DeFi, memecoins, AI projects, stablecoins, and now tokenized RWAs, MEXC lives up to its reputation as the most comprehensive platform in crypto. African traders benefit from seamless onboarding, 24/7 support, and coverage across nearly every country on the continent.

Looking Ahead

2026 has gone beyond choosing between TradFi and crypto. Traders can now enjoy the convergence of TradFi. Tokenized real-world assets are democratizing access to institutional-grade opportunities, and Africa’s vibrant crypto community is uniquely positioned to benefit.

Platforms that remove barriers through zero fees, diverse listings, and relentless focus on liquidity will lead the way. MEXC is already delivering on these fundamentals, providing traders with the tools needed to navigate and capitalize on the evolving financial landscape.

Join the future of finance today. Trade tokenized gold, silver, and the full spectrum of crypto assets on MEXC, where zero fees and unlimited opportunity meet.

MEXC

MEXC Global is a leading digital asset trading platform committed to expanding financial access worldwide. With deep liquidity, a wide range of trading products, and a focus on technological innovation, MEXC empowers users to explore, trade, and grow with confidence across crypto, traditional finance, and beyond.

X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC

Risk Disclaimer:

The information provided in this article regarding cryptocurrencies does not constitute investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully assess market fluctuations, the fundamentals of projects, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.

The post TradFi: The Crypto Market Trend to Watch in 2026 appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

From the Spring 2026 batch, startups accepted into YC can choose to take the standard $500,000 seed investment in USDC instead of traditional bank transfers. 

The funds can be sent over Ethereum, Solana or Base, according to Nemil Dalal, a visiting partner at Y Combinator who focuses on crypto.

YC’s core deal remains $500,000 for 7% equity, but what changes is the rail the money travels on.

For founders operating outside the United States, especially in markets where they face banking delays and foreign exchange friction, the option is a big win. 

Stablecoin transfers settle almost instantly and cost a fraction of traditional wires. In some cases, the difference between waiting days and receiving funds in seconds can affect how quickly a young company gets off the ground.

Dalal said the appeal is strongest in emerging markets, where founders find cross-border payments stressful. Stablecoins remove many of those limitations without changing the economics of the deal.

Inside YC circles, the decision has also led to talks about risk. Founders are usually advised to keep operations predictable wherever possible. 

Build boldly, yes, but do not gamble with payroll, compliance or treasury management. Your startup is already risky enough.

That is still part of YC’s thinking. The accelerator is not asking founders to speculate or hold volatile assets. USDC is designed to track the US dollar, and YC is not encouraging startups to manage crypto portfolios. The option is about transfer speed and access, not financial experimentation.

“Stablecoins are one of the key pillars for us,” Dalal said. “So we just want to live and breathe that as well.”

This is the first time a top-tier accelerator has formally offered stablecoins as a default funding option. While crypto-focused venture firms have used similar methods for years, most established investors have stayed with bank wires. 

Dalal said he was not aware of any legacy venture capital firms that provide founders with this choice.

“We’re excited for a world where, in the future, we think a lot of startups will eventually start raising capital on-chain,” he said.

In July 2025, President Donald Trump signed a bill that set out regulations for crypto assets in the United States, giving stablecoins a defined legal footing. 

That clarity has changed how large institutions view digital dollars, moving them from the edges of finance into day-to-day infrastructure.

Responding to this, technology firms like Stripe completed a $1.1 billion acquisition of stablecoin startup Bridge in February 2025 and later backed its own blockchain built for stablecoin payments. 

Cloudflare announced plans to launch a stablecoin in September, while Klarna introduced a payments token in November.

These came during a period when crypto prices were increasing. Since then, the market has cooled. Bitcoin and other major tokens have slid towards multi-month lows, dampening enthusiasm in some corners of the industry.

Dalal argues that the slowdown has not affected interest in stablecoins.

“The excitement on stablecoins is just growing,” he said. “It’s actually agnostic of prices.”

Unlike speculative tokens, stablecoins are now used as plumbing, a way to move money quickly, cheaply and across borders without relying on correspondent banks. 

For startups, especially those hiring internationally or paying suppliers in different currencies, the utility is immediate.

YC’s move also aligns with its recent drive to attract more blockchain-focused founders. Last year, the accelerator partnered with Base and Coinbase Ventures to encourage startups building crypto-related products. 

Offering funding through the same rails those companies work on brings practice closer to principle.

For now, Y Combinator says the stablecoins funding option is voluntary. Founders who prefer traditional banking can stick with it. 

The post Y Combinator to Offer Startup Funding in USDC Stablecoins From Spring 2026 appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Looking ahead to 2026, we can expect steps forward in several key areas, notably in the global stitching of instant payments and the maturation of digital currencies and AI, converging to redefine what is possible in financial services.

Modernising messaging beyond compliance

The official retirement of SWIFT’s MT format in November 2025 finally came to pass. Now, the challenge moves from achieving basic compliance to truly taking advantage of the structured data power of ISO 20022.

The long-awaited full potential of granular remittance information, enhanced compliance metadata, and superior reconciliation, remains untapped if back-office legacy systems and correspondent relationships aren’t fully modernised.

In 2026, the industry focus will move beyond basic technical compliance to fully operationalising the ISO 20022 standard.

Organisations must update back-office systems, legacy infrastructure, and correspondent-bank relationships if they are to unlock the full potential of the richer MX data.

This means moving past mere format translation to leveraging structured remittance details and cleaner compliance metadata for tangible benefits, such as superior transparency, automated reconciliation, and enhanced regulatory reporting.

To achieve this, institutions require flexible, adaptable platforms that will enable them to go beyond a mandatory regulatory transition and find strategic opportunities for data-driven innovation.

Instant payments go global

The domestic instant payment revolution, led by systems like India’s UPI and Brazil’s Pix, is now entering its cross-border phase, with initiatives like the Bank for International Settlements’ Nexus project designed to standardise the way that instant payment systems connect to each other.

Rather than a payment system operator building custom connections for every new country that it connects to, the operator can make one connection to the Nexus platform.

We are entering a world where moving fiat currency across borders can be as seamless as sending a domestic payment, potentially in seconds and at low cost. This disrupts traditional correspondent banking and creates opportunities for businesses and consumers alike.

AI moves from experimentation to integration

There is a spread when it comes to organisational readiness for AI and many are moving out of exploration and into implementation, albeit via piecemeal pilots in many cases.

Seventy-two per cent (72%) of enterprises are making AI a top priority and increasing their investment by almost a third in the next year according to recent Red Hat data, yet 7% still aren’t generating customer benefit at scale.

In 2026, I expect to see a significant rise in the deployment of targeted AI use cases within payments, and I hope to see organisations moving away from silos and towards a unified platform that is accessible for all teams and can offer the consistency and control needed to build, deploy, and manage AI with any hardware, any model and any cloud.

For more than 90% of respondents to our survey, enterprise open source is part of the solution here.

In the coming months, Agentic AI will begin to move beyond proofs-of-concept into areas like intelligent, self-optimising payment routing and sophisticated, real-time fraud detection systems.

The focus will be on smaller, more efficient models (SLMs) tailored to specific tasks like payment remediation or data correction, prioritising explainability and control.

Regulatory frameworks, particularly the EU AI Act, will shape this adoption, emphasising the need for transparent, robust, and fair AI.

The infrastructure supporting this must allow for flexible deployment, training on synthetic data in the cloud while running inference on sensitive financial data on-premises, a core strength of hybrid cloud architectures.

Stablecoins, CBDCs, and sovereignty

2026 is poised to be a decisive year for digital currencies. The regulatory landscape, exemplified by the EU’s MiCA and the US stablecoin legislation, is providing the “rules of the game,” leading to increased institutional engagement.

The critical question will be which models gain mainstream traction, bank-issued money tokens, asset-backed stablecoins, or Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).

This debate will be underpinned by digital sovereignty. Whether for a CBDC or a critical national payment system, control over the underlying infrastructure is paramount.

Nations and central banks cannot have dependencies on technology stacks or operational control residing in foreign jurisdictions when managing monetary sovereignty.

The regulatory impetus shaping payments

Decisions like the UK’s move towards regulatory parity with US stablecoin rules highlight a key theme for 2026: harmonisation efforts to ensure market stability as digital assets blur geographic lines.

Crucially, regulations are defining more than compliance checklists, they are influencing the economic models of new currency forms.

The requirement to back stablecoins with high-quality liquid assets, for instance, directly links technological adoption to monetary policy and national balance sheets.

Adapt fast or be displaced – embrace open

For someone who has been in payments for many years, the outlook for 2026 is very exciting. We are witnessing a moment of simultaneous evolution across messaging, networks, assets, and intelligence.

I am especially keen to see how the connected instant payment landscape matures and what reactions it sparks in the Americas.

The digital currency space, above all, promises compelling developments as the theoretical debates of recent years yield to concrete pilots and policy decisions.

The payments market has transformed from a world of “if it works, don’t fix it” to one of “adapt or be displaced.”

This constant change, driven by technology, is reshaping how the world moves value. Navigating this requires a balanced focus on relentless innovation and uncompromising resilience. That is the challenge and the opportunity that makes 2026 such a compelling chapter to anticipate, and calls for platform technology that is not only performant and reliable but also inherently interoperable and sovereign.

This is where open source shines, offering transparency, flexibility and freedom to choose provider and geographic location.

Vendor-backed enterprise open source builds on community innovation with added security focus, lifecycle management, compliance, and technical support that business-critical workloads demand.

Institutions must therefore choose technology partners that offer the agility to adapt to this evolving regulatory tapestry without compromising on stability.

The post How 2026 Will Stitch Together the Future of Payments appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

A popular influencer insists that buying a particular token is the smartest financial move you will make this year.

Everywhere you look, someone is pointing you toward the next big crypto opportunity that may give more returns than Bitcoin. It feels exciting, fast, and full of promises. It also feels like everyone else is getting rich without you.

This feeling has a name. The fear of missing out, often called FOMO, has become a driving force in the world of cryptocurrency.

Many people today are drawn into digital assets by the hope that their money will rise quickly in value.

Phrases like going to the moon have become part of everyday conversations about crypto. But behind all the excitement, there is also a need for understanding.

Crypto can be rewarding, but it can also be confusing and risky. To make wise decisions, we need to look beyond the hype.

The Superbowl Effect and the Power of Influence

One moment that showed the cultural rise of crypto was Superbowl LVI. During one of the most watched events in America, several crypto companies paid for prime advertising time.

They wanted millions of viewers to see that crypto was the future and that they should join in. Coinbase, a crypto exchange, even displayed a simple QR code on the screen. This alone led to more than twenty million visits to their website in one minute.

But the hype had consequences. If a viewer invested one hundred dollars in Bitcoin on the Monday after the Superbowl, that investment would be worth about forty eight dollars by July of that same year. This means more than half the value disappeared. If all twenty million viewers had invested one hundred dollars each, their combined loss would be over one billion dollars.

This example reveals something important. Excitement can push people into quick decisions, but excitement does not erase risk. Crypto can rise fast, but it can also fall fast. Understanding it is essential for anyone thinking about investing.

What Exactly Are Crypto Assets?

Crypto assets are digital assets. They exist only in electronic form. While they were originally created as a way to make payments, many people today treat them as investment tools. The idea is simple. You buy a crypto asset like Bitcoin or Ethereum and hope its value increases.

But this hope comes with risk. A risk is the chance that your investment may lose value. This has happened many times in the crypto world.

Bitcoin, the first and most popular crypto asset, has experienced large rises and large declines. Even though it is considered one of the most stable coins, it has lost almost seventy percent of its value during some periods.

Crypto asset market capitalization refers to the total value of all units of a particular asset. In November 2021, all crypto assets combined reached a value of about $2.9 trillion dollars. By mid 2022, almost $2 trillion dollars of that value had vanished.

Some people, including well known investors like Bill Gates, question the idea of crypto as a strong investment. Gates argues that crypto value depends mainly on what someone else is willing to pay, rather than on a product or service that benefits society.

To understand crypto properly, it is helpful to look at where it comes from.

The Technology Behind Crypto

Distributed Ledger

Blockchain technology forms the heart of crypto assets. A blockchain is a digital ledger that records transactions. For example, when people buy or sell Bitcoin, the information is stored on one shared public ledger.

Every transaction must be verified before it becomes official. This is done by a network of powerful computers called miners. Miners solve complex math problems to confirm each transaction and are rewarded with new Bitcoin.

Once a group of transactions is verified, it is placed into a block. Each block connects to the one before it, creating a long chain. This is why it is called a blockchain.

Decentralized System

The blockchain is not stored in one place. It is spread across many computers around the world. This means no single government, company, or person controls it.

The creator of Bitcoin designed it this way to avoid control from any central authority. Unlike traditional digital payments like PayPal or bank transfers, Bitcoin allows people to transact directly with one another. This is known as peer to peer interaction.

Cryptographic Protection

The word crypto comes from a Greek word that means hidden. Cryptography protects information and ensures secure communication. With crypto transactions, special encryption keys act like digital signatures to confirm a user is the real sender. This creates trust without needing a central authority.

Why So Many Crypto Assets Exist

Once the world understood blockchain technology, developers began creating many different crypto assets. These assets are like different apps built on similar technology, each with a unique purpose.

Here are common types of crypto assets:

1. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are used for payments, storage of value, and trading.
   
2. Stablecoins like Tether are designed to keep a stable price by matching the value of another asset such as the dollar.
   
3. Meme coins like Dogecoin are inspired by internet humour and often have no clear use.
   
4. Non fungible tokens often called NFTs represent ownership of unique digital objects.
   
5. Utility tokens like MANA allow users to participate in specific digital platforms.
   

The variety shows both creativity and speculation in the crypto world.

The Dark Side of Popularity

Crypto has become a target for scams. The Federal Trade Commission reported that scammers stole more than one billion dollars in crypto from forty six thousand people since 2021. Young adults between 20 and 49 years old are most affected. Almost half of these scams began with a message or advertisement on social media. Many scams promise huge profits but end in complete loss. Once you send your crypto, there is no way to reverse the transaction.

Regulation and Protection

Authorities are paying closer attention to crypto. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission, also known as the SEC, has increased its efforts to supervise crypto activity. In 2022, the agency doubled the size of its crypto enforcement team.

At the time, President Biden also issued an executive order to address both risks and benefits of crypto.

Despite these efforts, crypto is still not monitored as closely as traditional investments.

Smart Choices Before You Invest

If you ever choose to invest in crypto, consider these points:

1. Only use money you can afford to lose.
   
2. Be cautious of celebrity endorsements. Many are paid promotions and may not reflect real financial wisdom.
   
3. Do your own research before trusting online suggestions.
   
4. Protect yourself from scams by avoiding offers that promise guaranteed profits.
   

Celebrities and influencers may also invest in the assets they promote, which means they benefit from price increases. Their priority may not be what is best for you.

Learning Crypto the Easy Way with MEXC

You can learn about crypto in a simple and confident way by using MEXC. The platform provides clear learning materials, practical guides, and beginner friendly explanations that help you understand how crypto works without confusion.

MEXC Learn offers lessons on key topics such as blockchain, trading, and risk management, while the MEXC app gives you real time market updates that help you learn by observing real activity.

Through its live sessions, community discussions, and helpful support team, MEXC makes it easy for anyone to grow from a curious beginner into an informed crypto user.

Conclusion

Cryptocurrency began as an innovative way to make payments. Over time, it became a global investment trend. Blockchain technology changed how we record transactions and opened the door for thousands of digital assets. Yet crypto remains unpredictable. It has created wealth, but it has also caused significant losses.

To navigate the crypto world safely, knowledge is essential. Look beyond the hype. Study the risks. Be aware of scams. Never invest more than you can handle losing. Crypto is fascinating and full of potential, but it demands careful understanding.

That understanding begins with asking the right questions and not letting excitement make decisions for you.

Risk Disclaimer: The information provided in this article regarding cryptocurrencies does not constitute investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully assess market fluctuations, the fundamentals of projects, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.

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