Maggie Wu-led stablecoin platform redefines the future of global payment infrastructure

Maggie Wu’s VelaFi completed a $20 million Series B funding round on January 12. Having raised over $40 million to date, VelaFi is moving beyond a simple startup to a force aiming to revolutionize the international payment system. Notably, the inclusion of Alibaba Investment, a subsidiary of Alibaba, among the investors demonstrates how desperately large e-commerce companies worldwide want this technology.

Payment Innovation Starting in Latin America

VelaFi’s strength lies in its deeply rooted payment infrastructure in Latin America. Globally, international remittances still suffer from high fees and slow processing times. However, the payment challenges faced by businesses in this region are even more complex. While traditional banking systems take days for cross-border transactions, VelaFi’s stablecoin-based solution enables real-time payments.

As regional e-commerce platforms like Mercado Libre grow, streamlining cross-border B2B payments has become a key business expansion challenge. VelaFi has precisely captured this market demand.

Confidence from Global Capital: The Significance of the $20 Million Series B

This funding was led by XVC and Ikuyo, with participation from Alibaba Investment, Planetree, and existing investor BAI Capital. The involvement of international investors such as Beijing-based dual-currency fund XVC and Tokyo-listed company Ikuyo indicates that VelaFi’s growth is not just limited to Latin America but is entering a global expansion phase.

Interestingly, collaboration with Ikuyo began as early as November 2025. When VelaFi entered the Japanese market, the two became co-operators of the Stablecoin Payment Association and agreed to provide transparent, cost-effective payment services for exporters and global companies. This shows that strategic cooperation is underway beyond mere financial investment.

Maggie Wu’s Multi-layered Strategy: The Role of CEO and Founder

VelaFi is a subsidiary of Galactic Holdings, and Maggie Wu is both a co-founder and CEO of this company, as well as the founder of the well-known venture capital firm Krypital Group. These multiple roles reveal Maggie Wu’s strategic approach.

Galactic Holdings has operated cryptocurrency wallets TruBit, trading platform TruBit Pro, and enterprise international payment solutions TruBit Business. In 2025, these businesses were rebranded as VelaFi after a brand upgrade. This was not just a name change but a strategic decision to focus business on stablecoin-based payments.

Currently, VelaFi’s services have expanded from Latin America to the US and Asia, serving hundreds of corporate clients and processing billions of dollars in transactions. Maggie Wu has driven VelaFi’s rapid growth by combining her experience as a cryptocurrency investor with her operational leadership as CEO.

Technology Breaking Down the Boundaries Between Fiat and Cryptocurrency

VelaFi’s business model is designed with a clear B2B focus. All corporate clients must undergo strict KYC (Know Your Customer) and KYB (Know Your Business) procedures before accessing services. This approach ensures regulatory compliance while maximizing blockchain advantages.

The first core service involves on-ramps and off-ramps (fiat currency deposit and withdrawal channels). When end-users pay in local fiat currency, the company receives stablecoins (USDT/USDC) or Bitcoin of equivalent value. Conversely, when companies send stablecoins to VelaFi, they are instantly converted into local currency using the local banking network. This drastically reduces the time previously required for international remittances.

The Future of International Fund Transfers: Innovation Driven by Stablecoins

The second service, global payments, opens entirely new possibilities. When a Mexican company pays a Brazilian supplier, it used to require dozens of intermediary banks. Now, through VelaFi, the transaction can be directly converted from MXN pesos to BRL reais, dramatically improving speed and transparency.

VelaFi’s true innovation lies in connecting major real-time payment systems in Latin America with stablecoin liquidity. Mexico’s SPEI (interbank electronic payment system), Brazil’s PIX (real-time payment system), and Colombia’s PSE (payment system) are each key regional payment infrastructures. By linking these with cryptocurrency, VelaFi has found a way to enhance payment efficiency locally without bypassing existing systems.

This aligns with Maggie Wu’s vision: cryptocurrencies are no longer just abstract assets floating on the internet but are integrated into real international trade, e-commerce, and corporate transactions. The reason Alibaba invested in this platform is precisely because of this vision. The future envisioned by the world’s largest B2B e-commerce company aligns perfectly with the payment system Maggie Wu and VelaFi are building.