Zodia Markets is an institutional digital asset trading business headquartered in the UK and backed by Standard Chartered Bank. Zodia Markets makes digital assets simpler, safer, and quicker to access than traditional methods. We offer institutional clients access to stablecoins at wholesale institutional FX rates, facilitating seamless same-day settlement 24/7. Our partnership with Circle enables our clients to on and off-ramp between multiple fiat currencies and digital assets, including non-USD stablecoins, into USDC.
Finance is long overdue for an internet-native upgrade. In a global market, many clients face high costs when transacting with counterparties in different jurisdictions. While developed markets may not require optimization, cross-border payments, particularly in emerging markets, suffer from slow transaction speeds, limited availability during business hours, high costs, limited access to USD, and a lack of transparency. As supply chains re-map to be more inclusive and truly global, the world needs a cheaper, faster, and more efficient means of moving value into, out of, and between different countries.
Stablecoins have emerged as a vital solution, providing accessibility and availability for seamless cross-border payments using internet-native, non-volatile currencies. Through strategic partnerships with payment service providers, stablecoin issuers and a network of digital asset custodians, Zodia Markets provides corporate customers with seamless access to digital assets, enabling efficient cross-border value transfer.
With USDC, Zodia Markets makes cross-border payments faster, more efficient, and cost-effective, settling T0 and 24/7. Zodia Markets combines Standard Chartered’s FX and banking capabilities with the rapid speed of USDC, allowing clients to move digital assets cross-border efficiently and safely.
Step 1Customer initiates on-ramp Customer sends local currency funds e.g. AED/MEX/EUR to Zodia Markets. |
Step 2Zodia Markets converts local currency to USD Zodia Markets converts local currency to USD via Standard Chartered Bank’s FX desk. |
Step 3Zodia Markets mints 1:1 USD for USDC Zodia Markets sends USD to Circle and then converts that to USDC via Standard Chartered’s 24/7 internal ledger transfer. |
Step 4Zodia Markets delivers USDC to customers Zodia Markets transfers USDC to clients' DA wallet. |
Take this example, a grain importer in Africa who needs to pay for a cargo that has arrived in harbor as quickly as possible to avoid having to pay demurrage. They come to Zodia Markets to exchange local currency directly into USDC in a single transaction. The importer can then send the USDC directly to the grain supplier in Asia, which removes the need for USD to clear through the correspondent banking system, saving cost and time as well removing unpredictability. Once received, the grain supplier could convert the USDC into their local currency with Zodia Markets in a separate transaction.
In this scenario, USDC is sent directly from Africa to Asia near-instantly, without moving through correspondent banking intermediaries or bearing the fees typically associated with cross border payments.