Wirex and Ultra Stellar have announced a partnership to launch a native payment infrastructure on the Stellar network. Built on the Soroban smart contract platform, this initiative creates a fully integrated financial layer. The collaboration provides developers and users with direct on-chain access to real-world payment services.
A Strategic Collaboration for On-Chain Finance
This venture is a deep co-development effort, not a simple integration between the two firms. Wirex contributes its global payment connectivity and regulatory coverage, while Ultra Stellar brings its expertise in Stellar infrastructure. Their combined strengths aim to create a unified payment layer for the ecosystem.
Unveiling a Comprehensive Payment Stack
The new infrastructure introduces a comprehensive suite of financial tools powered by stablecoins. Users can access virtual bank accounts for managing digital assets and perform instant 1:1 conversions between fiat and stablecoins. This design removes friction and improves usability for everyday financial activities.
A key feature is the global card program, allowing users to spend stablecoins at over 80 million merchants. The platform also supports global payouts through major rails like ACH, SEPA, and SWIFT. This effectively bridges on-chain assets with the traditional international banking system.
An attractive component for users is the native stablecoin yield, offering up to 6% APY on balances. This yield is generated through a secure, on-chain infrastructure that ensures full liquidity. The feature operates without mandatory lock-up periods, providing users with complete flexibility.
Built on Soroban for Seamless Integration
The entire payment solution is built directly on Soroban, Stellar’s advanced smart contract platform. This native construction ensures seamless interoperability with existing Stellar wallets, tokens, and decentralized applications. It allows developers to integrate financial services without relying on complex external systems.
This on-chain approach marks a departure from typical integrations that depend on off-chain infrastructure. By embedding these capabilities within the network, the partnership transforms Stellar into a more complete financial ecosystem. It is now better equipped to support a wide array of real-world use cases at scale.
Vision for a Future-Proof Financial Ecosystem
The infrastructure is designed to support millions of current users and next-generation financial applications. This forward-thinking design includes capabilities to handle transactions performed by autonomous AI agents. Such functionality opens new possibilities for programmable, cross-border financial interactions.
Pavel Matveev, CEO of Wirex, stated the goal is to build a native payment layer for the ecosystem. He noted this infrastructure allows developers, businesses, and AI agents to access real-world financial services directly on-chain. The vision is to establish Stellar as a premier hub for stablecoin-powered payments.
Gleb Pitsevich, Founder of Ultra Stellar, echoed this sentiment, highlighting his company's role in scaling the network. He noted the joint effort will empower developers and users with direct on-chain access to tangible financial capabilities. This collaboration is set to significantly evolve the native payment infrastructure on Stellar.
This strategic launch by Wirex and Ultra Stellar marks a pivotal moment for the Stellar network. It establishes a robust, native infrastructure that connects blockchain capabilities with global financial systems. By providing a comprehensive suite of stablecoin-powered services, the partnership positions Stellar as a leading ecosystem for digital payments.