StraitsX Powers Seamless Crypto Payments Across SE Asia | BYDFi

Key Points
1- StraitsX is transforming stablecoin payments in Southeast Asia with its invisible payment layer.
2- Between 2024 and 2025, card transaction volumes surged 40x, and card issuance grew 83x.
3- The company powers partners like RedotPay and UPay, enabling instant settlement in local currencies.
4- Upcoming stablecoins, XSGD and XUSD, on Solana will support machine-to-machine micropayments.
5- StraitsX aims for seamless cross-border payments without users noticing the stablecoin layer.

Invisible Stablecoin Payments Are Changing Southeast Asia’s Fintech Landscape

Imagine paying for your coffee in Singapore while visiting from Bangkok. You tap your e-wallet, the transaction completes instantly, and the local currency appears on the merchant’s side. Most travelers don’t realize that behind this seamless experience lies a network powered by stablecoins—digital currencies pegged to fiat.

StraitsX, a Singapore-based company, is making this invisible. Instead of building a consumer app, it provides the infrastructure that powers stablecoin cards for partners like RedotPay and UPay. Between late 2024 and late 2025, StraitsX saw an astonishing 40x increase in transaction volume and an 83x jump in card issuance, highlighting one of the fastest-growing stablecoin card programs in Southeast Asia.

Riding the Wave of Crypto Card Growth

While these growth numbers are impressive, context matters. RedotPay, one of StraitsX’s main partners, soft-launched in late 2024, making the initial baseline low. However, the broader crypto card industry is also expanding rapidly. Global monthly volumes increased from $100 million in early 2023 to $1.5 billion by late 2025—a staggering 106% compound annual growth rate.

On-chain crypto card spending alone rose 420% in 2025, with Visa capturing over 90% of the volume. RedotPay processed $2.95 billion in 2025, four times more than its 13 nearest competitors combined. StraitsX is now at the center of a booming digital payments ecosystem, driving cross-border and local transactions alike.

The Technology Behind Invisible Payments

StraitsX functions as a Visa BIN sponsor, meaning it provides the infrastructure for partners to issue cards. Users tap or scan, and stablecoins settle transactions instantly, converting to local currency on the merchant’s side. As CEO Tianwei Liu explains, “No user cares about whether a payment runs on stablecoins or fiat; they only care if the payment goes through.”

The company has processed nearly $30 billion in cumulative stablecoin transactions and aims to make these payments as invisible as fiber-optic cables: always present, but unnoticed.

XSGD and XUSD on Solana: The Future of Micropayments

By March 2026, StraitsX plans to launch XSGD and XUSD on the Solana blockchain. These stablecoins will support the x402 standard, enabling machine-to-machine micropayments. Low fees will allow tiny, frequent transactions, embedded directly into applications—transforming payments into continuous, low-cost digital flows.

XSGD already dominates the non-USD stablecoin market in Southeast Asia with over 70% market share, maintaining a 1:1 peg to the Singapore dollar backed by monthly audits.

Expanding Beyond Singapore

StraitsX is not stopping at Singapore. Under Project BLOOM, a Singaporean regulatory initiative, Thai travelers will soon pay Singapore merchants in Thai currency, with the system converting Q-money to XSGD in the background. This invisible stablecoin layer simplifies cross-border payments, boosting merchant volumes and user engagement.

Future expansions are planned in Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, making StraitsX a regional leader in seamless crypto payments.

A Shift in Payment Paradigms

Visa likens stablecoin-backed cards to electric cars on the same highway as fuel-powered vehicles: the technology differs, but the user experience remains familiar. This shift could revolutionize remittances, cutting fees dramatically—sending $200 internationally costs 6.49% on average, but near-zero fees are possible with stablecoins.

Looking ahead, stablecoin cards will evolve beyond utility. Real-time spending insights, cross-border perks, and personalized rewards could become standard features, all while keeping the infrastructure invisible. For Liu, success means disappearing—the best payments are the ones people don’t notice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What makes StraitsX’s stablecoin payments “invisible”?
StraitsX operates in the background, converting stablecoins to local currency instantly. Users see only a seamless payment experience without knowing digital currencies are involved.

How fast is the growth of StraitsX’s stablecoin card program?
Between Q4 2024 and Q4 2025, transaction volumes surged 40x, and card issuance increased 83x, one of the fastest growth rates in Southeast Asia.

What are XSGD and XUSD?
These are stablecoins launching on the Solana blockchain to support machine-to-machine micropayments, enabling low-cost, frequent transactions embedded in applications.

Which partners does StraitsX work with?
Key partners include RedotPay and UPay, which issue stablecoin-backed cards via StraitsX’s infrastructure.

Will stablecoin cards change the user experience?
No. Cards function like traditional Visa cards, with instant settlements and chargeback protections, but with lower fees and cross-border capabilities.

Where is StraitsX expanding next?
Beyond Singapore, StraitsX is targeting Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, supporting cross-border payment corridors and merchant adoption.