MoneyGram, a leading global payments network for consumers, businesses and communities, and NALA, a global stablecoin payments company, today announced a strategic partnership to power next-generation cross-border payouts into emerging markets using stablecoin-based settlement infrastructure.

The partnership combines MoneyGram’s global payments network and distribution reach with NALA’s stablecoin settlement infrastructure and local payout network, enabling value to move between digital dollars and local currencies in near real-time.

Through this collaboration, MoneyGram is leveraging NALA’s licensed stablecoin on- and off-ramp infrastructure platform,Rafiki, to accelerate payouts across Africa and Asia. The platform connects MoneyGram to a growing network of banks and mobile money providers across the region, enabling faster settlement and improved foreign exchange efficiency. 

Modernizing Global Stablecoin Payment Settlement

For decades, cross-border payouts into emerging markets have relied on complex correspondent banking networks that can cause delays, high FX spreads, and operational inefficiencies. 

Stablecoin settlement infrastructure offers a fundamentally different model. By serving as the settlement layer, stablecoins enable value to move in near real-time across borders while maintaining compliant access to local currencies through regulated payout networks. The result is a global payout system built for the realities of modern digital commerce.

New Settlement Layer for Global Payouts

The MoneyGram–NALA partnership introduces a new settlement layer for cross-border payouts. Key consumer benefits include: 

• Near real-time settlement
• Lower FX costs through direct local liquidity
• 24/7 payouts independent of banking hours
• Higher reliability via direct bank and mobile money integrations
• Expanded reach across Africa and Asia

‍

‍

On the backend, this settlement model helps MoneyGram in its initiatives to operate with greater capital efficiency, enhance treasury management and reduce the need for pre-funded liquidity across multiple jurisdictions.

Anthony Soohoo, Chief Executive Officer of MoneyGram, 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 exceptionally serve customers across emerging markets.” 

Benjamin Fernandes, Founder and CEO of NALA, 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. Together, we’re helping unlock faster, more reliable access to global money movement across Asia and Africa.”

Unlocking New Economic Flows

The MoneyGram–NALA partnership supports a growing range of payment use cases across emerging markets, including:

• Global remittances enabling faster transfers to mobile wallets and bank accounts
• Platform payouts for global marketplaces paying workers and freelancers
• Treasury and liquidity management for companies operating across multiple currencies
• Global collections and local distribution for businesses expanding into emerging markets

Expanding Stablecoin Innovation in Emerging Markets

Beyond settlement infrastructure, MoneyGram and NALA are also exploring additional opportunities to deepen their collaboration around stablecoin innovation in emerging markets. Both companies aim to explore new models that expand access to modern financial services across emerging economies.

MoneyGram has been building in the digital asset space for over five years and remains one of the few established financial institutions with live, scaled stablecoin use cases serving real customers across global corridors today. Its early innovations, global cash for on/off-ramps for digital currencies, industry-leading crypto compliance infrastructure and a stablecoin-enabled MoneyGram app are helping bridge the gap between the cash and digital economies.

‍

‍