KB Kookmin Bank to introduce blockchain-based cross-border payment service via JPMorgan's Kinexys network in August, initially supporting USD transfers across 10 countries.
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) plans to pilot a stablecoin-based settlement system for cross-border payments to freelancers and overseas workers, developed with Meridian. This initiative aims to reduce costs and processing times for inbound funds, converting stablecoins to pesos before crediting BPI accounts.
Augustus, a startup building a federally chartered clearing bank for stablecoins and programmable money, raised $180 million in a Series B round, valuing the company at $1 billion. The funding, led by Tiger Global, follows its conditional approval for a U.S. national bank charter.
Russia's State Duma is holding final readings on a bill to regulate cryptocurrency, introducing annual purchase limits for non-qualified investors (300,000 rubles) and cross-border transfer limits, aiming to establish a legal framework by Sept. 1.
SWIFT's blockchain-based ledger is ready for initial use, with 17 major banks piloting cross-border payments using tokenized bank deposits. The new ledger aims to enable 24/7 payments while maintaining compliance and risk standards.
Indonesia plans to integrate with India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and use its digital public infrastructure as a blueprint for its own ecosystem. The collaboration extends to commerce, digital identity, and public services, with potential for export across the ASEAN region.
Ripple proposes a lending upgrade (XLS-65/XLS-66) for the XRP Ledger to attract institutional credit, allowing borrowing against on-chain assets without the blockchain making credit decisions. This aims to expand XRPL's role beyond payments into broader institutional finance.
The European Commission unveiled a tax simplification package expected to save EU businesses €8 billion annually by reducing red tape and simplifying cross-border payments. The proposals aim to boost investment, enhance competitiveness, and potentially increase EU GDP by 0.2% per year.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is set to simplify cross-border payment approvals and reduce regulatory friction for businesses and exporters as part of its Payments Vision 2028. An EY report highlights this as a key strategic priority, focusing on a single-window application process and ecosystem review to aid MSME exporters and strengthen India's global payment position.
A consortium of 37 banks across 15 countries, Qivalis, is launching a euro-denominated stablecoin to challenge the dollar's dominance in crypto payments and settlement. Despite current market saturation by dollar stablecoins like USDT and USDC, Qivalis aims to leverage its regulatory compliance and bank network to establish euro rails for tokenized assets.
Digital assets are a promising tool for cross-border payments, said Angelina Akimenko of the Russian Export Center (REC) at the CIPR 2026 conference. Russia will implement a new legal framework for digital payments from July 1, 2026, integrating cryptocurrencies into a regulated system.
The deal marks Kraken's largest acquisition as it pushes into Asian cross-border payments through stablecoin infrastructure.
Remittance giant Western Union’s USDPT token will power cross-border payments and a consumer spending product launching in 40+ countries.
Circle Internet Group, operator of the world's second-largest stablecoin USDC, reports surging payments into Hong Kong on its Circle Payments Network. CEO Jeremy Allaire called Hong Kong one of the most popular cross-border settlement routes, describing the market as important and attractive. Circle hopes to see USDC approved as a foreign stablecoin in Hong Kong, having already partnered with OSL Group and signed an MOU with HKT.
South Korea's Kbank has signed a strategic partnership with Ripple to test blockchain-based overseas remittances, placing a bank with a central role in Upbit's KRW account access beside one of crypto's longest-running payments infrastructure firms. Local reports describe the work as a technical verification, or proof-of-concept, focused on whether Ripple's infrastructure can improve the speed, […] The post The South Korean bank powering Upbit is testing Ripple integration for cross-border payments appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Nium, a Singapore-based fintech, has partnered with Coinbase to integrate USDC stablecoin payments into its global network, enabling cross-border payouts in over 190 countries. The integration uses Coinbase's infrastructure for custody, liquidity and wallet services, allowing customers to settle in stablecoins or local currencies without prefunded accounts. Nium supports 100+ currencies across 40 markets with real-time payouts in 100+ corridors and holds 40+ regulatory licenses worldwide.
