The recovery of trade between Colombia and Venezuela has created a new challenge for companies that need to move money as quickly as goods. Pago ASAP has announced its entry into Colombia with specialized infrastructure for cross-border payments between the two countries. The expansion comes as bilateral commerce grows and businesses search for faster, more transparent, and more predictable financial channels to support new commercial activity.
A Recovering Trade Relationship
Bilateral trade reached $1.170 million in 2025, according to the Colombo Venezuelan Chamber based on DANE figures. More than 1,100 Colombian companies have resumed exports to Venezuela after the border reopening. Sectors such as financial services, oil industry support, food, and textiles are regaining operations, sourcing suppliers, and seeking more reliable payment mechanisms to sustain that recovery.
A Cross Border Payments Platform
Pago ASAP offers banks, fintechs, digital wallets, remittance providers, and companies the ability to send and receive money to and from Venezuela through API integration or direct operation. The platform is designed to reduce settlement times, improve traceability, and strengthen regulatory compliance while offering more competitive rates. The company reports working with more than 1,200 merchants across Chile, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, and the United States.
Transaction Volume and Market Gap
The company processed more than USD 30 million in transactions toward Venezuela and more than USD 128 million from Venezuela during the first half of 2026. It projects USD 500 million by the end of the year, reflecting demand for regulated cross border payment rails. Many businesses still rely on informal channels, with some operations paying above 4 percent when traditional banking lacks liquidity or processing speed.
Investment Backing and Regional Expansion
Pago ASAP's arrival in Colombia is supported by a recent funding round of USD 1.15 million closed at a valuation of USD 5 million. Brazilian fund Sassholic led the investment with approximately USD 800,000, while California based RallyCap, directed by Hayden Simmons, contributed USD 350,000. The capital will accelerate the company's expansion in Latin America and the development of infrastructure for payments involving Venezuela.
Regulatory Compliance and Product Innovation
The company operates as a money service business licensed in Canada and works with a local sponsor bank in Venezuela to meet both international and local compliance requirements. This structure supports transaction screening and helps verify the origin of funds, which is important given ongoing sanctions and the use of stablecoins. Pago ASAP has also introduced a product connecting Colombia's Bre-B system with Venezuela's Pago Móvil to enable near instant transfers for individual users.
Outlook for the Colombian Market
Managing director Fredy Genatios said the next stage of the bilateral relationship is enabling capital to move with greater efficiency and confidence. The company plans to support corporate import and export flows as well as remittances between Colombians and Venezuelans. It expects to expand interoperability between the two financial systems through partnerships with local wallets and payment gateways.
Pago ASAP is positioning itself as a regulated bridge between Colombia and Venezuela at a time when commercial ties are recovering. Its combination of investment, compliance, and local market knowledge addresses a persistent gap in financial infrastructure. By improving speed, transparency, and predictability, the company seeks to support broader growth in bilateral trade and financial connectivity.