MoneyGram, a global payments network for consumers and businesses, and NALA, a stablecoin payments company, have announced a partnership to support cross-border payouts into emerging markets using stablecoin-based settlement infrastructure.
The collaboration combines MoneyGram’s international payments network with NALA’s stablecoin settlement and local payout infrastructure, enabling funds to move between digital dollars and local currencies in near real time.
MoneyGram will use NALA’s licensed on- and off-ramp platform, Rafiki, to support payouts across Africa and Asia.
The platform connects MoneyGram to banks and mobile money providers in the region, with the aim of improving settlement speed and foreign exchange efficiency.
The companies said traditional cross-border payout systems often rely on correspondent banking networks, which can result in delays, higher FX spreads and operational inefficiencies.
They added that stablecoin settlement provides an alternative model, allowing value to move more quickly across borders while still accessing local currencies through regulated payout networks.
Under the partnership, both firms said consumers could benefit from near real-time settlement, lower FX costs through local liquidity, 24/7 payout availability, improved reliability through direct integrations with banks and mobile money providers, and wider coverage across Africa and Asia.
On the operational side, MoneyGram said the model may support greater capital efficiency, improved treasury management and reduced reliance on pre-funded liquidity across multiple jurisdictions.
MoneyGram Chief Executive, Anthony Soohoo, said:
“Financial inclusion only matters if it works in the real world. With NALA, we’re leveraging stablecoin settlement infrastructure to improve payout speed, reduce FX costs, and expand our ability to serve customers across emerging markets.”
NALA Eounder and Chief Executive, Benjamin Fernandes, said:
“Stablecoins are transforming global payments by providing a faster and more efficient settlement layer for cross-border transactions. By partnering with MoneyGram, we’re enabling a new generation of payouts into emerging markets combining the speed of stablecoin settlement with licensed local distribution infrastructure.”
The partnership covers use cases including remittances to mobile wallets and bank accounts, payouts for global platforms and freelancers, treasury and liquidity management across currencies, and cross-border collections and local distribution for businesses.
Featured image credit: MoneyGram press release
