Singapore-based stablecoin payments company dtcpay has closed a $25 million Series A round after bringing in Japan’s SBI Group, adding a major financial-services backer as it builds payment products for merchants and consumers across Asia.
SBI joined the financing through SBI Ventures Asset Pte. Ltd. and the SBI-NTU-Kyobo Digital Innovation Fund, dtcpay said in a Friday statement. The investment expands the amount disclosed for the Series A, whose initial tranche was announced in April and led by Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India.
The funding gives dtcpay additional capital to develop stablecoin payment infrastructure at a point when Japanese financial groups are increasing their involvement in tokenized money, cross-border settlement, and regulated digital-asset services. For dtcpay, SBI’s participation also creates a potential bridge to Japanese corporate networks while the company expands its merchant presence in Southeast Asia.
sbi joins existing series a backers
Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India led the first part of dtcpay’s Series A financing, alongside Genedant Capital and existing backer Kwee Liong Tek. The company did not provide a breakdown of the individual commitments in its announcement.
The completed Series A follows dtcpay’s $16.5 million pre-Series A round, announced in June 2023. Founded in 2019, the company operates infrastructure intended to let businesses and individuals accept, hold, and make payments using stablecoins.
SBI’s involvement stands out from a conventional venture-capital investment because the group operates across banking, securities, asset management, and digital-asset businesses. A partnership with a Japanese financial group could give dtcpay a route to pursue payment corridors linking Japan and Southeast Asian markets, where businesses often face different currencies, local payment systems, and settlement arrangements.
Stablecoins are increasingly being positioned for business transfers and merchant checkout, although their use remains closely tied to regulatory rules, reserve transparency, and local requirements for payment providers. Companies building this infrastructure must also handle conversion between tokens and fiat currency, compliance checks, custody, and integration with existing card and point-of-sale systems.
product plans focus on merchants and enterprise users
Dtcpay said it will direct the new financing toward expanding its products and merchant network. Planned work includes an updated business portal for enterprise customers and additional consumer-focused features for the dtcpay application.
The business portal would place stablecoin payment functions in a more familiar operating environment for merchants, which generally need transaction records, settlement tools, staff controls, and integration options rather than a standalone crypto wallet. Such software can determine whether stablecoin payments remain a specialist offering or become practical for companies processing routine commercial transactions.
Dtcpay has already introduced a digital payment token point-of-sale service designed for in-store stablecoin payments. The company has also partnered with Visa to issue a stablecoin-to-fiat Visa Infinite card for customers in Singapore.
That card arrangement gives customers a way to spend from stablecoin balances through the established Visa acceptance network, while merchants receive fiat currency rather than needing to directly manage digital tokens. The model reduces the operational burden on retailers, though it leaves the payment provider responsible for the conversion and settlement process behind the transaction.
stablecoins move closer to payment networks
The latest round reflects a more competitive market for companies seeking to make stablecoins usable beyond trading venues. Payment providers are racing to offer ways for businesses to accept dollar-linked tokens without requiring every merchant to manage private keys, navigate blockchain fees, or take direct exposure to token price volatility.
Dollar-pegged stablecoins are designed to maintain a fixed value against the US dollar, making them more suitable for payments than assets with larger daily price swings. Their appeal in cross-border commerce rests on the possibility of around-the-clock transfers and faster settlement, particularly where conventional correspondent banking routes involve multiple intermediaries.
The practical benefits vary by jurisdiction and use case. Businesses may value faster movement of funds, but they also need reliable redemption mechanisms, liquidity in local fiat currencies, clear transaction records, and confidence that the stablecoin used is accepted by counterparties. Regulatory licensing can become as important as the blockchain itself.
Dtcpay said its expansion strategy includes adding licenses in new jurisdictions and working with large banks. Those steps would be necessary for the company to move from a Singapore-centered product suite toward regional payment operations, where regulatory treatment of stablecoins differs sharply between countries.
japan-singapore links could shape the next phase
The SBI investment places dtcpay within a regional financial relationship that already connects two major Asian hubs for digital-asset development. Singapore has established a licensing framework for digital payment token services, while Japan has set rules for stablecoin issuance and distribution that place significant emphasis on regulated entities.
For dtcpay, the immediate test will be whether fresh capital and SBI’s strategic backing translate into merchant distribution and enterprise payment volumes. Product launches alone do not guarantee that businesses will shift settlement processes, especially when existing bank transfers, cards, and local payment methods remain deeply embedded.
The $25 million Series A gives the company more room to pursue that challenge. Its next stage will depend on building payment tools that work within banking and compliance systems while delivering a simpler checkout and settlement experience for merchants using stablecoins.
To see why stablecoins matter regionally, explore why stablecoins are so important in Asia today.
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