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MoneyGram Introduces USDC Payments Using Stellar Blockchain

Financial services company MoneyGram International has partnered with the Stellar Development Foundation to enable consumers to send money using Circle’s popular stablecoin USD Coin (USDC) and convert it directly to and from fiat.

6, MoneyGram has built-in support that allows crypto wallets connected to the Stellar network to access its global retail platform. Working with Circle, MoneyGram will also enable “almost instant backend payments”, account funding and local fiat withdrawals using the stable USDC token.

United Texas Bank will act as the clearing house to complete the regulatory process.

“As cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrencies grow, we are particularly optimistic about the potential of stablecoins as a way to streamline cross-border payments,” said Alex Holmes, President and CEO of MoneyGram.

The partnership is expected to start in certain jurisdictions by the end of 2021; an expanded international introduction is planned for 2022. Denelle Dixon, CEO and CEO of the Stellar Development Foundation, said:

“A new segment of cash users will be able to convert their cash to and from USDC, giving them access to fast and affordable digital asset services that were previously possible.

MoneyGram’s integration with Stellar comes just months after the company transitioned to enabling customers to withdraw crypto assets for cash through their US outlets. The service is implemented in cooperation with the Bitcoin ATM and the crypto exchange operator Coinme Inc.

Related: Biden administrator is considering bank-like regulation for stablecoin issuers

MoneyGram is no stranger to the blockchain and partnered with distributed ledger technology Ripple in June 2019 to partner with digital assets on cross-border payments and foreign exchange payments.

However, the deal quickly headed south due to the uncertainty surrounding the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit against Ripple. MoneyGram ended support for the Ripple platform in the first quarter of 2021.

Stellar was launched by Ripple co-founder Jed McCaleb after he left the project in 2014.

Circle released filings on October 4 stating that it was cooperating with an SEC subpoena it received in July.

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Annie

Championing positive change through finance, I've dedicated over eight years to sustainability and environmental journalism. My passion lies in uncovering companies that make a real difference in the world and guiding investors towards them. My expertise lies in navigating the world of sustainable investing, analyzing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria, and exploring the exciting field of impact investing. "Invest in a better future," I often say. That's the driving force behind my work at Coincu – to empower readers with knowledge and insights to make investment decisions that create a positive impact.