NALA and Noah have launched a new instant stablecoin settlement network designed to make cross border payments faster, cheaper and more reliable for businesses operating in emerging markets. The initiative focuses on solving a long standing problem where companies wait days to move money even when using digital currencies that promise speed.
The new network combines Noah’s global US dollar collection infrastructure with NALA’s licensed stablecoin on and off ramps. Together, they allow businesses to collect dollars globally, settle instantly in stablecoins and pay out locally within minutes. The service runs continuously, removing the limits of banking hours and slow correspondent systems.
Benjamin Fernandes, Founder and CEO of NALA, explained the thinking behind the launch.
“We continue going all-in on stablecoins for real-world payments. Today, NALA + Noah are launching an instant stablecoin settlement network for emerging markets.”
He said that while stablecoins have existed for years, the real problem has been the lack of usable infrastructure.
“For too long, stablecoins promised speed but real businesses were still stuck waiting days to move money because the infrastructure wasn’t there. Now it is.”
This launch is built into NALA’s B2B platform, Rafiki, which was created specifically to support payroll, payouts, treasury management and global collections. Fernandes emphasized that stablecoins themselves are not the end product.
“Stablecoins aren’t the product. They’re the rail. And now, they finally have the network to scale.”
Closing the Liquidity Gap for Growing Businesses
One of the main goals of the NALA and Noah partnership is to address the estimated 850 billion dollar annual liquidity gap faced by small and medium sized businesses in developing economies. Many of these businesses struggle to access working capital because international payments are slow, expensive and unpredictable.
Through Noah’s regulated virtual accounts, companies can now collect US dollars from anywhere in the world. These funds can be settled instantly in stablecoins and converted into local currencies through NALA’s licensed infrastructure. This process takes minutes instead of days, helping businesses manage cash flow more effectively.
Rafiki, NALA’s B2B platform, has grown rapidly. Its transaction volume increased from zero to one billion dollars in just 18 months, showing strong demand for faster settlement tools. The platform allows businesses to run a 24 hour cross border treasury operation without worrying about trapped liquidity or delayed transfers.
Fernandes highlighted the practical impact of the system.
“No more trapped liquidity. No more slow correspondent banks. This is what happens when stablecoins meet real regulation, real liquidity and real distribution across Africa and Asia.”
By removing delays, businesses can pay suppliers on time, run payroll without uncertainty and respond faster to market opportunities. This is especially important in regions where currency volatility and limited banking access increase financial risk.
Reducing Costs While Staying Fully Compliant
Cross border payments into Sub Saharan Africa remain some of the most expensive in the world, with average fees often above 8 percent. These high costs are driven by fragmented banking systems, multiple intermediaries and limited operating hours.
The new settlement network operates independently of local banking schedules and reduces the need for multiple correspondent relationships. Payments can be processed around the clock, improving speed while lowering overall costs.
Compliance is a key part of the model. Noah provides identity verification and monitoring at the point of dollar collection, while NALA operates with more than 10 global regulatory licenses. This ensures that all transactions meet regulatory standards while still moving quickly across borders.
Demand for this type of solution is growing fast. According to Fernandes, interest in stablecoin based settlement has increased a hundredfold over the past year as companies look for predictable access to dollar liquidity.
The launch also reflects NALA’s broader shift from a consumer remittance app to a global payments infrastructure provider. Over the past year, the Rafiki API has expanded thirtyfold and attracted major partners, including MoneyGram. The focus is now on enterprise use cases such as global payroll, treasury operations and merchant collections.
“We didn’t build Rafiki.com to be another payments API. We built it to make stablecoin settlement actually work in emerging markets for payroll, payouts, treasury and global collections. Today is a big step toward that future,” Fernandes said.
The partnership between NALA and Noah shows how regulated stablecoin technology can move from promise to real impact. By improving speed, reducing costs and maintaining compliance, the new network gives businesses in Africa and Asia better control over their money. As stablecoins become a core part of global finance, this initiative sets a clear example of how they can support real economic activity.
