For millions of families across emerging markets, money isn’t just a number, it’s a constant negotiation with uncertainty. Prices shift overnight. Bank fees chip away at income. And every remittance home loses a little more to delays and exchange costs.
In Southeast Asia alone, remittance flows are projected to exceed $100 billion in 2025, growing nearly 8 percent per year. Yet the people who depend on that money often wait days and lose up to 6 percent in transfer fees just to receive it.
That’s beginning to change.
Stablecoins like USDC, issued by Circle’s regulated affiliates, are bringing the reliability of the dollar to nearly anyone with a phone. And through our recent partnerships with Stellar and MoneyGram, USDC can now reach the people who need them most: near-instantly, securely, and in cash if they choose.
When the System Doesn’t Work for You
Traditional finance wasn’t built for everyone. If you live in a country where inflation eats through savings or where sending $200 abroad can cost $12 in fees, you feel that gap every day.
Remittances remain a lifeline for one in eight people worldwide, according to the World Bank. But for too many, that lifeline still runs through slow, expensive, and opaque systems. Many adults remain unbanked, paid in cash and locked out of digital finance. Each delay and each hidden charge makes it harder to build stability or plan for the future.
“When every transaction takes a cut and every delay costs value, it’s hard to build a secure future,” said Mark Jones, Founder of Hana.
That’s the challenge stablecoins were designed to solve.
From Volatility to Stability
For years, crypto promised freedom, but its volatility made that promise hard to trust. Stablecoins have started to flip that script. By anchoring digital assets to real-world value, they make crypto usable, not just tradable.
USDC is fully-reserved and transparent, redeemable 1:1 for U.S. dollars. Monthly attestations and onchain visibility make it one of the most transparent assets in the world of digital finance.
It’s a simple idea with global reach: the power of the dollar, at the speed of the internet.
Stellar provides the fast, low-cost settlement layer that moves those dollars across borders in seconds. And in markets where stability means survival, that speed and trust make all the difference.
Turning Stablecoins into Everyday Access
Stability alone isn’t enough for broad adoption. People need a way to use it.
That’s where Hana’s integration with MoneyGram closes the loop.
With Hana’s simple, non-custodial app, users can hold USDC, send it across borders, and when they need cash, withdraw instantly at one of MoneyGram’s 350,000+ locations worldwide.
It’s digital when you want it, cash when you need it.
In Hanoi, a mother receiving support from her son abroad can now pick up local currency the same day it’s sent. In Manila, a freelancer paid in USDC can cash out a portion for rent and keep the rest in stable value.
Across emerging markets, that bridge is already taking shape with USDC. Remittance platforms like BCRemit use USDC to move money faster and cheaper. In Latin America, Lemon and Airtm are helping users save and send USDC. And in Brazil, Nubank, one of the region’s largest digital banks, offers USDC access directly to its customers.
This is now a global network of real utility, connecting platforms, people, and everyday money.
Stability as the Ground for Financial Freedom
When your stablecoins are designed to hold their value, you make different decisions.
You can save with confidence.
You can plan for the month ahead instead of the next payday.
You can say yes to opportunity instead of reacting to instability.
For families, stability is freedom.
For small businesses, it’s growth.
For everyone shut out of the traditional system, it’s a way in.
The progress we’re seeing today is because of a global financial infrastructure working in sync.
- USDC is a fully-reserved dollar-denominated stablecoin that’s globally accessible.
- Stellar keeps those stablecoins moving: fast, affordable, and across borders.
- MoneyGram connects the network to reality: familiar cash access, everywhere it’s needed.
- Hana turns them into something usable: a simple wallet anyone can understand.
Each layer serves a simple purpose: to bring financial predictability to people who need it most. Together, they turn a global technology into a local utility.
Building an Inclusive Future
Southeast Asia is just the beginning.
The combination of an asset designed to maintain a stable value coupled with easy access is redefining remittances and the effects will ripple far beyond this region. As dollar-denominated stablecoins reach more hands through trusted channels, new doors open for savings, payments, and financial inclusion.
“This is how the next billion people enter the digital economy. Not through speculation, but through financial stability,” said Mark Jones, Founder of Hana.
The goal isn’t to replace the financial system. It’s to make it work for everyone.
See How It Works
Learn how USDC, made more usable through Hana App and MoneyGram on Stellar, is helping families across emerging markets turn digital dollars into real financial access.