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The Web3 Payments Review
Signal in the noise: Web3 payments, decoded
We cut through the hype to explore where TradFi meets Web3. This newsletter focuses on what actually works: real-world impact, practical use cases, and the infrastructure moving the needle in global finance.
Join us for deep dives into stablecoins, tokenisation, and the evolving compliance landscape, delivered through expert analysis and exclusive interviews.
Get actionable insights, not just headlines.
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1.
Instant crypto payments for merchants
Daniel McCabe, Co-Founder and CEO
Flexa
In this interview, Daniel shares insights into how Flexa is building a digital-native payments network that enables merchants to accept digital assets at over 60,000 locations worldwide. Flexa’s technology bridges the gap between DeFi and TradFi by providing instant proof of payment, allowing merchants to settle transactions immediately while still using blockchain-backed assets.
Our take: You don't need to be crypto-native to accept digital assets, but your customers will value the choice. The next era of commerce is asset-agnostic and chain-free. By adopting fast, secure, and privacy-preserving tech, you’re unlocking the future of global money movement.
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2.
Beyond SWIFT: how stablecoins are redefining B2B payments and global payouts
Avinash Chidambaram, Founder and CEO
Cybrid
Stablecoins are fundamentally reshaping B2B and cross-border settlements. In this interview, Avinash highlights how this technology empowers CFOs to maximise working capital by delaying payments without sacrificing speed: suppliers receive funds in real-time. Through reduced costs and 24/7 transparency, stablecoins are revolutionising modern finance, with Cybrid leading the institutional transition.
Our take: Stablecoins are becoming a complementary layer for B2B and cross-border payments. As local assets and exchanges scale, they enable direct on-chain transactions, allowing buyers and sellers to settle instantly without relying on traditional bank accounts.
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3.
Integrating digital assets into retail payments: inside the Burner payment stack
Cameron Robertson, CEO
Arx Research
In this interview, Cameron shares the story behind Burner, a crypto-native payments stack designed to make stablecoin payments practical for everyday retail use. Built around secure NFC technology, the Burner ecosystem combines the Burner Wallet, physical Burner Cards, and the newly launched Burner Terminal to enable tap-to-pay transactions that settle directly on-chain.
Our take: The next era of digital assets is defined by retail utility, not speculation. By unifying hardware security with simple payment tools, merchants gain instant settlement, lower fees, and reduced risk, all integrated directly into their current checkout workflows.
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4.
From days to minutes: how stablecoins are transforming cross-border payment economics
Neil Chopra, Financial Markets Economist
Fireblocks
Legacy cross-border payments suffer from slow settlement and trapped capital. By layering stablecoin infrastructure over traditional rails, payment providers are achieving faster settlement and superior treasury management, eliminating the need for complex correspondent banking networks.
Our take: Stablecoins are transitioning from pilots to core financial infrastructure, driven by institutional demand for capital efficiency. Success now depends on industry-wide collaboration to align regulation and tech, ultimately unlocking seamless, high-speed cross-border payments.
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5.
Building institutional digital cash for the 24/7 tokenised economy
Michelle Neal, CEO
Fnality International
Michelle shares her journey into the Web 3 and tokenisation space. She discusses what ‘institutional-grade digital cash’ truly means, how prepared the financial industry is for this next wave of infrastructure change, the benefits these innovations bring to market participants, and the risks and realities we must carefully navigate as financial services enter a 24/7 programmable economy.
Our take: Tokenising assets is simple, but building trusted, cross-jurisdictional settlement infrastructure is complex. The real challenge lies in scaling across platforms without introducing new liquidity or operational risks.
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6.
Offline payments define the architecture of digital money
Joachim Samuelsson, CEO
Crunchfish
In this interview, Joachim argues that offline functionality is now a core requirement for modern payments; the focus has shifted from if digital money should work offline to how a system is built to support it.
Our take: Legacy offline payments force a trade-off between control and certainty. Modern ‘governed offline’ architecture eliminates this compromise, anchoring funds within the financial system while allowing local execution. Offline capability is a defining requirement for resilient, modern payment systems.
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7.
DeFi lending explained: Morpho on regulation, adoption, and the future of on-chain credit
Faustine Fleuret, Head of Public Affairs
Morpho
DeFi lending applies traditional credit logic to blockchain infrastructure, replacing opaque intermediaries with real-time transparency. By automating settlement and risk parameters, it provides a more efficient, accessible, and programmable alternative to the legacy banking system.
Our take: The priority for DeFi isn’t more regulation, but clarity on how existing rules apply on-chain. By balancing legal certainty with high compliance standards, we can integrate DeFi into the global system to enhance competitiveness without compromising financial stability.
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8.
How consumers use stablecoins: 2026 BVNK report highlights
Mirela Ciobanu, Lead Editor
The Paypers
The 2026 BVNK report shows that half of crypto holders increased their stablecoin positions this year. Mirela analyses the data to reveal who these consumers are, where they’re located, and exactly how they are using their assets based on data from the BVNK report.
Our take: Stablecoin utility is no longer theoretical, as consumer adoption drives real-world financial integration. The focus has shifted toward how financial institutions and merchants can respond to this demand to create a more inclusive, global digital economy.
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9.
Stablecoins and sanctions – can traditional finance make it work, or is it a risk too high?
Colin Whitmore, Former Financial Crime Director, AI, Strategy and Design
Natwest Group
Financial Crime Expert Colin Whitmore explores the intersection of stablecoins and sanctions. Can traditional finance manage the risk, or is it too high?
Our take: Fiat-backed stablecoins offer global efficiency but create new financial crime risks. Their speed and pseudonymity allow illicit actors to move value outside traditional rails and bypass sanctions, requiring financial institutions to evolve their risk management and compliance strategies.
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10.
Global Stablecoins Report 2026
The Paypers Team
The Paypers
The Global Stablecoins Report 2026 – From Hype to Utility: How Stablecoins Are Reshaping Payments for Banks, Merchants, PSPs, and Fintechs, explores how stablecoins are transforming the payments landscape and what this evolution means for the broader financial landscape.
Our take: Stablecoins are rapidly emerging as one of the most important developments in the digital payments and financial landscape. Initially created within the DeFi ecosystem, they are now moving toward broader financial adoption, attracting the attention of banks, fintech companies, payment providers, regulators, and global merchants.
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About This Newsletter
At The Paypers, we bring together expert perspectives to help you distinguish real signals from digital asset hype. By connecting TradFi veterans with DeFi innovators, we bridge the industry's most critical knowledge gaps.
Have a trend you'd like to share? We’re currently looking for expert contributors for our next edition. Get in touch! |
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