Circle Backs Tazapay's $36M Round to Build Stablecoin Payment Rails
Tazapay raised $36 million in an extended Series B led by Circle Ventures. The company processes cross-border payments using stablecoins and targets emerging markets where traditional banking infrastructure is slow or expensive.
TazapayTL;DR:
- Circle Ventures led the round, joined by Coinbase Ventures and CMT Digital—all crypto-native firms betting on regulated stablecoin infrastructure.
- Tazapay focuses on emerging markets in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, where demand for faster cross-border payments is high.
- The company is pursuing licenses in the UAE, EU, and Hong Kong to expand its regulatory footprint.
- With $10 billion in annualized volume and breakeven operations, Tazapay appears to have found traction against slower legacy payment networks.
- Traditional cross-border systems like Swift face growing pressure as stablecoin alternatives mature.
The Round Brings Total Series B to $36 Million
Tazapay, a Singapore-based fintech that builds cross-border payment infrastructure, closed an extension to its Series B on March 26, 2026. The round now totals $36 million, with Circle Ventures leading the extension. CMT Digital and Coinbase Ventures joined as new investors, while existing backers Peak XV Partners, GMO VenturePartners, January Capital, Ripple, Norinchukin Capital, ARC180, and RTP Global also participated. The initial Series B closed in August 2025.
The company says it processes more than $10 billion in annualized payment volume and has grown 300% year-over-year. Tazapay has reached operational breakeven and works with over 1,000 enterprises and fintechs across 30 countries. Its infrastructure uses stablecoins, real-time payments, and ACH transfers for settlements.
Founded in 2020, Tazapay connects traditional finance with digital assets, focusing on fiat-to-stablecoin payments in emerging markets. The company holds licenses in Singapore, Canada, Australia, and the United States, with applications pending in the UAE, EU, and Hong Kong. The fundraise comes as stablecoin adoption grows in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East—regions where legacy banking systems often create friction for cross-border transactions.
| Funding Fact | Details | |--------------|---------| | Project | Tazapay | | Sector / Category | Cross-border payments / Fintech-Web3 infrastructure | | Funding Round | Extended Series B | | Amount Raised | $36 million (total for Series B) | | Valuation | Undisclosed | | Lead Investor | Circle Ventures | | Notable Participants | CMT Digital, Coinbase Ventures, Peak XV Partners, GMO VenturePartners, January Capital, Ripple, Norinchukin Capital, ARC180, RTP Global | | What's Missing | Valuation and breakdown of extension amount not disclosed |
Investors Are Betting on Emerging Market Demand
The investor lineup reflects a shared thesis: crypto-native firms see opportunity in regulated stablecoin infrastructure. Circle Ventures, which backs projects across the stablecoin ecosystem, pointed to Tazapay's work enabling enterprise fiat-to-stablecoin settlements in markets underserved by traditional banking. Ripple's continued participation—dating to the initial Series B—suggests confidence in blockchain-based payment rails.
Tazapay plans to use the funding for licensing in the UAE, EU, and Hong Kong, sales expansion across Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and the Americas, and development of payment infrastructure for AI-driven transaction flows. The company already offers local collection and payout in over 70 markets, alternative payment methods, virtual bank accounts, and stablecoin integrations with compliance built in.
The numbers tell a growth story: revenue has doubled for three consecutive years, and the client base includes B2B marketplaces, neobanks, and Web3 companies. Tazapay's model—funding transactions individually rather than requiring prefunded accounts—and real-time settlement address common complaints about cross-border payments: high fees and slow processing.
- The investor mix matters: Circle Ventures leading, plus Coinbase Ventures and CMT Digital, brings crypto-native expertise to the cap table alongside traditional fintech backers.
- Clear use of funds: Licensing applications in three major jurisdictions, plus go-to-market spending in high-growth regions.
- The metrics look real: $10 billion annualized volume and 300% year-over-year growth suggest the product works.
- Positioning against incumbents: Tazapay is betting that regulated stablecoin rails can win business from legacy systems where Swift and correspondent banking create delays.
- Japan market entry: Partnerships with GMO VenturePartners and Norinchukin Capital open doors to local payment methods and enterprise sales in Japan.
The timing aligns with shifting regulatory attitudes toward digital assets. FATF's June 2025 updates emphasized compliance requirements for virtual asset transfers, including Travel Rule standards for cross-border stablecoin transactions above $1,000. Tazapay says its infrastructure already supports these requirements. Prior funding includes a $16.9 million Series A in 2023 led by Sequoia Capital Southeast Asia (now Peak XV), bringing total funding to roughly $58 million.
Bottom line: Investors keep backing regulated cross-border payment infrastructure, especially for emerging markets.