FOCUSING ON NECESSITY
OVER SPECULATION

We're continuing our "Worldview of Stablecoins" season of stableminded with a company that's taking a radically different approach to adoption. While others chase crypto natives, Stables is focused on something more fundamental: making digital dollars accessible to everyone who needs them.

In this episode, Bernardo Bilotta, CEO of Stables, shares how they've processed over $200M in payments without spending a single dollar on marketing – a testament to building what people actually need rather than what the crypto world thinks they want.

"The most successful stablecoin product will be the one where users don't even know they're using stablecoins," Bernardo told Drew.

This philosophy has guided Stables from day one, leading to remarkable growth in regions where accessing stable currency isn't about speculation – it's about necessity.

Check out the full episode with Bernie below:

Also Available on Spotify:

THANK YOU TO MURAL PAY

Season 2 of stableminded is proudly supported by Mural Pay. Their vision for instant cross-border payments and commitment to transforming how money moves globally makes them the perfect partner for "A Worldview of Stablecoins."

Whether you're a business handling international payroll, managing cross-border settlements, or looking to streamline global payments, Mural Pay's platform makes it seamless.

_{DISCLAIMER: This podcast + newsletter is made in collaboration with Mural Pay and is therefore sponsored. All editorial decisions, opinions, and conclusions expressed are entirely those of our own and remain independent of any external influence.}

FROM BNPL TO BUILDING
THE FUTURE OF MONEY

Bernardo's journey to founding Stables is fascinating.

As one of the key figures behind Zip's mobile app (a major competitor to Afterpay in Australia), he helped scale the platform to billions in payment volume and tens of millions of users. This experience taught him two crucial lessons:

1. The power of making complex financial products feel simple

2. The importance of working with traditional financial rails while building something new

These insights shaped Stables' approach: partner with established players like Mastercard while building next-generation payment infrastructure powered by stablecoins.

SOLVING REAL PROBLEMS
IN EMERGING MARKETS

What caught my attention was Stables' focus on regions where traditional banking falls short. Consider these challenges they're addressing:

• The UAE Paradox: Getting a bank account can take months, yet it's a major hub for global workers sending money home

• Southeast Asian Fragmentation: Each country has different payment systems that don't work across borders

• Remittance Costs: People pay an average of 6% to send money internationally

Stables' solution? Combine stablecoin rails with local payment networks to enable:

• Instant settlement (vs. 3-5 days)

• Sub-1% fees (vs. 6%+ industry average)

• Simple mobile access (vs. complex banking requirements)

BUILDING A GLOBAL PAYMENT NETWORK

Instead of trying to replace existing financial infrastructure, Stables is creating bridges between traditional and crypto rails. Their approach challenges the common crypto narrative of disruption, focusing instead on integration and collaboration.

"It's better to partner than compete," Bernardo explains. "This isn't a winner-takes-all market. We're all better off helping each other leverage each other's rails."

Their partnership network showcases this philosophy:

• Mastercard: Global card payments and traditional finance bridges

• Coins.ph: Philippine peso liquidity through native stablecoins

• Yellow Card: Deep payment networks across Africa

• Koiway: Expanding reach in emerging markets

What makes this network powerful is its two-way nature.

When Stables integrates with a local payment provider, both parties benefit: partners gain access to global infrastructure while Stables gains local payment capabilities. This has enabled them to process transactions in minutes instead of days, with fees under 1% versus traditional 6%+ rates.

"We're not just moving money faster," Bernardo notes. "We're building an alternative payment network by connecting local players who have local expertise and banking rails directly in their countries."

Use code Stables-XT10X9 to get $5 in USDC when you sign-up (its free)

THE $200M GROWTH STORY:
PRODUCT-LED EXPANSION

What's remarkable about Stables' journey to $200M in payment volume isn't just the number – it's how they got there.

While most crypto companies spend heavily on marketing and user acquisition, Stables took a different approach: focusing entirely on product and partnerships.

Their growth strategy centers on three key principles:

1. Regulatory First: Unlike many crypto startups, Stables invested early in compliance, hiring a chief risk officer and building robust KYC/AML systems. This foundation of trust has opened doors with major financial partners and regulators.

2. Strategic Market Selection: Rather than trying to compete in saturated markets like the US, they focused on regions where stablecoins solve urgent problems. In the UAE, for example, where getting a bank account can take months, Stables offers an immediate solution for the massive expatriate workforce.

3. Network Effects Through Partnerships: Each partnership creates a two-way flow of users and liquidity. When Stables integrates with a local payment provider, they not only gain access to that market but also offer their existing users a new payment corridor. This network effect has driven organic growth without marketing spend.

The results speak for themselves:

• Growing from $1M to $400M in annualized payment volume

• Expansion across multiple emerging markets

• Strong word-of-mouth growth among businesses and individuals

As Bernardo puts it, "We're not just moving money faster – we're making it work better for people who need it most."

This focus on solving real problems has created natural virality, particularly in regions where traditional financial systems fall short.

THE ROAD AHEAD:
PROGRAMMABLE MONEY

"2025 is going to be about making money programmatic," Bernardo shared. His vision for the future isn't just about making payments easier – it's about making them invisible. Imagine:

• AI agents handling all your bill payments automatically

• Cross-border payments that feel as simple as sending a text

• Business payments that settle instantly, regardless of location

• EURO and USD payouts (live as of 2/7, read more about it here)

What excites me most is Stables' approach to building this future: focusing on solving real problems for people who need solutions today, not speculative features for tomorrow.

Want to understand where stablecoin adoption is really happening? Watch our full conversation with Bernardo. His insights on building regulated, user-friendly crypto products are something every founder and builder needs to hear.

Watch the full episode on YouTube
Listen on Spotify

Follow Stables on X: @stables_money
Follow Bernardo on X: @stablesbernie
Learn more: https://stables.money

As always, stay stable,

Drew and Zach

PS Missed previous episodes of stableminded? Checkout this list I put together of every episode so far.

DISCLAIMER: *The content of this newsletter is for information purposes only and does constitute financial, investment or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any decisions based on the information discussed in this newsletter This content reflects the authors personal views and has not undergone detailed verification by a research team. While I aim for accuracy, these are thoughtful opinions open to reevaluation. Some citations may be incomplete or absent; I’ll make every effort to provide updates and corrections to the live version as needed.