MoneyGram partners with Stellar to ensure USDC payments

MoneyGram, a leader in the evolution of digital P2P payments, partners with the Stellar Development Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports the development and growth of Stellar. Stellar is an open-source public blockchain that allows money to be tokenized and transferred anywhere in the world. MoneyGram's network, integrated with the Stellar blockchain and facilitated through Circle's USD Coin (USDC), will enable cash funding and payout in local currency for consumers using USDC, as well as near-instant backend settlement capabilities.

For consumers, the partnership will provide the ability to seamlessly convert USDC to cash, or cash to USDC. This increases the utility and liquidity of digital assets while also enabling more consumers to participate in the digital economy. The impact of this partnership is expected to grow as more wallets and companies join the Stellar network.

This partnership also revolutionizes the settlement process. For the first time, settlement with MoneyGram will occur in near-real-time using Circle's USDC, the world's fastest growing dollar digital currency. This enables an accelerated collection of funds, improving efficiency and reducing risk.

"At MoneyGram, one of our top strategic priorities is to pioneer cross-border payment innovation and blockchain-enabled settlement, and we're thrilled to now work with the Stellar Development Foundation to further our efforts," said Alex Holmes, MoneyGram Chairman and CEO. "As crypto and digital currencies rise in prominence, we're especially optimistic about the potential of stablecoins as a method to streamline cross-border payments. Given our expertise in global payments, blockchain, and compliance, we are extremely well-positioned to continue to be the leader in building bridges to connect digital currencies with local fiat currencies."

MoneyGram was the first money transfer company to utilize blockchain technology as part of its foreign exchange trading and has since launched several innovative partnerships that provide broad consumer access to digital currencies. MoneyGram continues to invest in initiatives related to digital currencies, and this latest integration with Stellar is the most recent in MoneyGram's journey to lead the evolution of digital peer-to-peer payments.

"This partnership is a shining example of how blockchain technology and stablecoins bring new opportunities to global customers and enhance the existing financial system," said Denelle Dixon, CEO and Executive Director of the Stellar Development Foundation. "Thanks to the reach of MoneyGram's services and the speed and low cost of transactions on Stellar, a new segment of cash users will be able to convert their cash into and out of USDC, giving them access to fast and affordable digital asset services that may have previously been out of reach. We're pleased to team up with MoneyGram to drive toward our mission of creating more equitable financial access."

"The launch of this partnership speaks to the power of digital currencies like USDC to create fast, secure, and seamless settlement for the digital economy," added Jeremy Allaire, Co-founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of Circle. "Together, we're at the forefront of innovation, demonstrating how we can reimagine financial services that benefit and better serve global users."

United Texas Bank will serve as a settlement bank between Circle and MoneyGram. Scott N. Beck, Director of United Texas Bank, added, "We are pleased to play an integral part in completing the settlement process by working on this first of a kind direct USDC to USD settlement within a bank regulatory framework."

The partnership is scheduled to go live in select markets in 2021, with further international rollout planned in 2022.