Stablecoin Remittances Get $9M Boost to Tackle Banking Gaps in Latin America

Standard Economics, a stablecoin payment startup, has secured $9 million in seed funding to develop its cross-border remittance platform, Uno, targeting markets in Latin America and Asia. The round, led by crypto venture capital firm Paradigm with participation from Lightspeed Venture Partners and strategic angel investors, marks a significant step for the company as it aims to leverage stablecoins to streamline international payments and reduce reliance on traditional banking systems, as reported in a Lookonchain piece. The funding will support the expansion of the Uno app, which launched in Mexico in October 2025 and plans to enter Argentina, the Philippines, and other regions.

The startup's platform is designed to enable users to send and receive USD via stablecoins, offering a low-cost, fast alternative to conventional remittance services. Co-founder and CEO Evan Jones emphasized the app's focus on accessibility, integrating domestic payments, remittances, and banking tools into a single interface. While the company's valuation remains undisclosed, Standard Economics currently operates with a six-person team and no revenue, according to Lookonchain. The investment underscores growing institutional confidence in stablecoin-based solutions, particularly in regions like Latin America, where cryptocurrency adoption has surged.

Latin America's crypto market has emerged as the fastest-growing in the world in 2025, according to the Coinchange report. The region saw a 63% year-over-year increase in crypto adoption, with 57.7 million users—12.1% of the population—holding digital assets. Argentina leads in ownership at 18.2%, followed by Brazil (16.7%) and El Salvador (14.2%). Stablecoins dominate transaction flows, accounting for 90% of activity in Brazil and 34% of retail payments in Venezuela. Cross-border crypto remittances grew 40%, representing up to 20% of GDP in El Salvador and Guatemala.

The expansion of Uno aligns with broader trends in the region, where economic instability and limited banking access have driven demand for digital alternatives. Standard Economics' focus on USD-stablecoin rails mirrors initiatives by established players like Western Union; Blockworks reports Western Union plans to launch a Solana-based dollar stablecoin in 2026 to cut settlement times and costs. Meanwhile, regulatory frameworks in Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico are advancing, with pilot programs and comprehensive laws fostering institutional adoption.

The seed funding round highlights the strategic value of stablecoins in addressing remittance challenges. With over $1.5 trillion in on-chain transaction volume recorded between 2022 and 2025, Latin America's crypto ecosystem is increasingly viewed as a testing ground for scalable financial infrastructure. Standard Economics' approach—combining regulated stablecoin networks with localized banking tools—positions it to capitalize on this growth while addressing compliance and user experience hurdles, as Coinotag notes.

As the company scales, it joins a wave of startups and traditional firms redefining cross-border payments. The broader industry's momentum is further supported by U.S. policy shifts, including the Genius Act, which established the first federal framework for stablecoins, according to Blockworks. With investor backing and a clear market need, Standard Economics aims to transform how users in emerging economies access global financial systems.