Payments provider Equals Money x Railsr is partnering with stablecoin infrastructure firm BVNK to enable its business customers to accept USDC stablecoin payments that are automatically converted into US dollars. The move allows businesses to tap into crypto-native customer flows while mitigating the complexity and compliance friction of holding digital assets directly.
The functionality, which routes funds through BVNK’s infrastructure for near-instant conversion, allows merchants to receive USD in their account balance in as little as thirty seconds. This rapid, fiat-settled model is positioned to support a range of international businesses, including e-commerce companies and accountants, looking for faster, more flexible global payment options.
Speaking to The Fintech Times, James Simcox, Chief Operations and Product Officer at Equals Money x Railsr, provided a deep dive into the practical implications of this partnership for mainstream stablecoin adoption, particularly focusing on the efficiency benefits over conventional methods.
Simcox explained that while fees on USDC transactions, generally falling in the 10-50bps range across the industry, are comparable to what a business might expect from a UK or EU-regulated consumer card, the true advantage is realised elsewhere. He clarifies that USDC is not a direct competitor to cards, but rather an alternative for a business that needs to send digital dollars quickly and with finality.
The biggest distinction lies in the immediate and irreversible settlement, which Simcox noted makes stablecoins particularly useful where an instant delivery product is involved, such as purchasing stock. The absence of chargeback risk in a stablecoin payment is a powerful incentive for merchants operating high-volume or digital goods businesses.
For the merchant, the key benefit is speed, enabling them to receive a customer’s USD near-instantly, which significantly reduces the settlement delays common in traditional banking rails. From the customer perspective, the advantage is the ability to send USD rapidly, even from markets where local access to US dollars is difficult or where they would otherwise incur wide FX spreads associated with card payments.
Simcox highlighted the utility of stablecoins in regions with volatile or less stable local currencies, as they offer greater certainty of value during the transaction, locking in the value of the US dollar. This acts as a powerful incentive for global payers.
From an operational standpoint, the solution is designed for seamless integration. Since the merchant ultimately receives a fixed amount of USD, settlement is guaranteed. This structure allows for a simple user experience where reconciliation behaves just like a standard currency transaction, despite the complexity of the underlying digital asset rails. Businesses of all sizes can generate a secure payment link or QR code via the Equals Money platform, which the payer scans with their crypto wallet to send USDC.
Chris Harmse, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer at BVNK, commented that stablecoins are rapidly changing the global payments environment, adding that the partnership is unlocking access to a global base of customers using digital assets. Su Carpenter, Executive Director at CryptoUK, welcomed the introduction of a USDC off-ramp for business customers, stating that it reflects a clear commitment to flexible payment options and responsible innovation in B2B finance.
