Singapore-based fintech Nium has announced a strategic partnership with cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase to integrate the USDC stablecoin into its global cross-border payments and settlement network. The integration, which is already live, enables Nium's clients to send, receive, and convert stablecoins alongside traditional fiat transactions within a single, unified platform.
The collaboration leverages Coinbase's infrastructure—including liquidity, custody, and wallet services—to embed stablecoin functionality directly into Nium's payment rails. This allows businesses to fund transactions in USDC and settle in either the stablecoin or local fiat currency, depending on operational needs. The model represents a significant shift, moving stablecoins from primarily trading instruments into core operational finance, particularly for treasury management and cross-border settlement.
A key operational innovation is the move away from prefunding models. Traditionally, cross-border systems require capital to be held in advance in local accounts across multiple jurisdictions, tying up liquidity. With this new integration, businesses can deploy capital dynamically, enabling just-in-time settlement. Funds are converted at the point of transaction, eliminating the need to maintain idle balances and improving overall capital efficiency for companies operating internationally.
The partnership also extends to card-linked spending. Nium's platform now supports USDC-backed card programs, allowing businesses to spend stablecoin balances through traditional card networks like Visa and Mastercard. Payments are processed in fiat at the point of sale, funded by the underlying digital asset balance, bridging blockchain-based assets with conventional payment systems.
Nium's network supports payouts in over 190 countries, more than 100 currencies, and holds over 40 regulatory licenses worldwide. Prajit Nanu, CEO and Founder of Nium, stated, "The future of money movement is multi-rail. Fiat and onchain infrastructure will increasingly work together, not in isolation." Alec Lovett, Head of Infrastructure Products at Coinbase, added that the partnership helps "extend stablecoin utility into real-world payment flows and help institutions seamlessly connect digital asset liquidity with global fiat infrastructure."
The news follows broader industry trends and recent data. USDC, a dollar-pegged stablecoin launched by Circle and Coinbase, is the second-largest stablecoin with a market capitalization of approximately $78 billion. A recent CEX.IO report noted USDC's supply grew by about $2 billion in Q1 2026, while Tether's (USDT) declined by roughly $3 billion.
