Brazilian fintech Z.ro has announced a strategic expansion with the launch of Z.ro Digital Assets, a new business unit focused on enabling international payments using crypto assets. The initiative will primarily leverage stablecoins to facilitate cross-border transfers for corporate clients, positioning the company at the intersection of foreign exchange, payments, and digital assets. Z.ro has set a long-term goal of processing $20 billion in international transactions by 2030, reflecting its ambitions in global payments infrastructure.
Expanding Global Reach from a Swiss Hub
Z.ro Digital Assets operates under the company’s international structure and is led by Sérgio Massa. The unit builds on Z.ro’s existing cross-border operations in Argentina, Chile, and Peru, while Mexico is planned as a future market, rather than an active one today.
A central pillar of the expansion is the establishment of an operational base in Switzerland, which will be responsible for the custody and movement of crypto assets used in transactions. This setup is designed to support compliance, operational security, and scalability as Z.ro expands its international payment corridors.
From this base, Z.ro Digital Assets aims to strengthen payment flows between Latin America and key global markets, including Europe, the United States, and Asia. The objective is to simplify international financial operations for companies engaged in cross-border trade, reducing friction traditionally associated with global transfers.
Leveraging In-House Technology for Efficiency
A core differentiator of Z.ro Digital Assets is its reliance on proprietary, in-house technology. By controlling its own infrastructure, the company can access and process stablecoin transactions without depending on external intermediaries, maintaining direct oversight of execution, costs, and settlement timelines.
According to Sérgio Massa, efficiency is central to the product’s value proposition. “In cross-border payments, every minute costs money,” he noted, emphasizing that the platform was designed to reduce intermediaries and deliver predictability. This approach targets long-standing challenges faced by businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions and currencies.
Aligning with a Progressive Regulatory Landscape
The launch of Z.ro Digital Assets follows recent regulatory developments by the Brazilian Central Bank, which introduced new rules governing digital asset services and incorporated stablecoins into the country’s foreign exchange framework. This regulatory clarity has created a more structured environment for payment institutions to explore crypto-enabled cross-border solutions.
Operating within this framework allows Z.ro to expand its offering while remaining aligned with local regulatory expectations. The initiative reflects a broader shift in Brazil toward integrating digital assets into regulated financial markets, particularly in international payments and FX.
A Strategic Step in Global Payments
The creation of Z.ro Digital Assets represents a significant step in Z.ro’s evolution as a payment institution focused on international financial infrastructure. By combining an international operational footprint, proprietary technology, and alignment with regulatory changes, the company is positioning itself to scale crypto-enabled payments across borders.
As demand grows for faster and more predictable international transfers, Z.ro’s move underscores the increasing convergence of traditional payments, foreign exchange, and digital assets within Latin America’s fintech ecosystem.