Cayman Islands, George City, December twelfth, 2024, Chainwire
KAST, a monetary know-how platform constructed on stablecoins to ship a neobank-style expertise, has raised US$10 million in seed funding. The spherical is led by HSG (HongShan Capital Group) and Peak XV Companions. Numerous high-profile angels, companions of DST World, and Goodwater Capital additionally joined the spherical.
“For many nations and over half of worldwide GDP, banking doesn’t match the openness and pace of the Web, it’s basically damaged. Stablecoins are the clear answer, however the consumer expertise wasn’t nice. We’re constructing KAST to vary this”, provides Raagulan Pathy, KAST’s Co-Founder. Pathy is a stablecoin professional, previously the VP for Asia Pacific & CEO for Singapore at Circle, greatest recognized for USDC.
KAST presents cost playing cards and USD-denominated accounts to individuals in over 150 nations, the flexibility to obtain and ship money, and dealing with companions reminiscent of Bridge (not too long ago acquired by Stripe). KAST will quickly launch financial savings and different remittance merchandise — all with out the necessity to contact fiat immediately. The maturing of stablecoin regulation and acceptance has led to fast integration with conventional finance networks, enabling customers to ship cash sooner, cheaper, and extra securely. KAST highlighted use instances reminiscent of holding USD stablecoins as a substitute for risky currencies, enabling individuals to purchase imports and journey with a card, and permitting distant employees globally to receives a commission.
“The subsequent technology of neobanks might be constructed on stablecoins and inherently international by DNA. They may differ basically from the present technology of neobanks, that are restricted in nations as a result of licensing, and wrestle in integrating blockchain; their core techniques and capabilities are simply too totally different,” feedback Daniel Bertoli, co-founder of KAST and former Companion at Quona Capital, a world FinTech fund that focuses on investments in neobanks.
KAST has accomplished a $10 million seed funding spherical at an undisclosed valuation. Inside its first 4 months, the corporate has demonstrated sturdy early traction by way of consumer adoption and income. The group views this as a mirrored image of great international curiosity in its platform.
Stablecoins have skilled exceptional growth with over US$170 billion in provide, and US$8.5 trillion transaction quantity in Q2 2024 by over 125 million customers. Analysts predict by 2030; consumer numbers will exceed 1 billion and provide will surpass US$1 trillion.
“KAST delivers actual advantages to international customers. Their USD-denominated accounts present a protected haven for hard-earned revenue when native currencies decline, particularly for these with out entry to conventional US accounts. As extra digital nomads obtain salaries in stablecoins, they will now bypass the trouble of legacy rails. Worldwide transfers that after took weeks can now be accomplished immediately and at just about no price,” mentioned Alex Svanevik (CEO/co-founder of Nansen.ai, an early investor in KAST).
Customers can go to the KAST website to study extra about KAST and uncover how their progressive choices can rework monetary expertise.
Testimonials from card customers
“I spent two weeks on the financial institution attempting to open a easy financial savings account. They requested for greater than 10 paperwork (~100 papers) and needed to signal and stamp every of them. And I opened a crypto card @KAST_official in actually 2min. Why would anybody go after conventional playing cards anymore? If i don’t want my financial institution statements for embassies, I’d all the time use crypto playing cards like @KAST_official” – Mardeni (Twitter)
“One faucet to resolve all my points. That’s all it took after I received my KAST card. Right here’s a fast recap, I’ve been touring loads recently, and exchanging cash has all the time been a problem. You normally find yourself shedding 5-8% within the course of by the point the money is in your hand. A good friend of mine despatched me a hyperlink and mentioned, “Give this a strive!” Quick ahead two months, and I’ve been tapping away rather a lot. Due to @KAST_official … I’ve used it throughout 5 nations over the past couple of months with none points. It’s made worldwide spending and crypto utilization extremely easy” – Alpha Bets (Twitter)
“I simply used my @KAST_official card to pay for my challenge’s area title and it labored seamlessly all I needed to do was fund it with Solana USDC, that is really a sport changer for me and some other factor I’ll need to do with it” – Alex (Twitter)
About KAST
KAST is remodeling the financial-technology panorama, by providing a seamless mix of stablecoin know-how with conventional cost means. The KAST platform allows USD accounts globally to 150+ nations, reaching over 5 billion individuals – providing an answer the place banking falls quick. The silky-smooth consumer expertise is taking mainstream the openness, pace and safety of stablecoins; KAST allows customers to ship, obtain, save, and spend funds throughout borders effectively. For extra data, customers can go to www.kast.xyz.
Contact
VP World Partnerships
Bas
KAST
[email protected]
