Encryptus CEO Shantnoo Saxsena on expanding stablecoin payments in Africa and Southeast Asia

Stablecoin settlement is transforming global finance with a near, cost-effective, and scalable end to borders. By combining legacy systems with digital assets, stablecoins become the essential infrastructure for 24/7 payments and the future of money.

In this discussion, Shantnoo Saxsena, CEO and founder of Encryptushighlights the company’s mid-year goals and its role in the broader ecosystem.

EPI: What are Encryptus’ goals for volume or market share in key channels over the next 3-5 years?

Shantnoo Saxsena: We focus on high-value remittance corridors across Africa and South-East Asia where the custody of wills creates major conflicts. Our priority is to prove that stablecoin payments work on a large scale through regulated banking partners like Credit Bank in Kenya. Once we have shown that the model can reliably handle the facility’s operating values, scaling becomes an iterative function. We are building partnerships corridor by corridor, working with local banks and payment institutions that recognize the importance of low cost payment infrastructure. Market share targets are more important than proving that the infrastructure works and that regulators, banks, and customers trust it. The volume follows the credibility of emerging markets.

EPI: Where do you see yourself in the broader ecosystem compared to SWIFT, Western Union, and others?

Shantnoo Saxsena: We are an infrastructure, not a consumer facing remittance brand. SWIFT is a messaging layer, which tells banks to move money without processing the transaction. Correspondent banks handle settlement, which is where costs accrue. Western Union is a retail brand that operates on top of the banking infrastructure. Encryptus sits between those layers. We provide a payment infrastructure that can be used by banks, payment firms, and remittance providers instead of banking. Think of it as a railroad, not a train. Our customers are financial institutions that want fast, cheap cross-border payments for their end users. We enable them to compete effectively with existing suppliers.

EPI: Dilip coordinated the G7/G20 working groups on remittances. Do you plan to bring that experience directly into Encryptus’ strategy and product roadmap?

Shantnoo Saxsena: Definitely. Dilip understands how policy frameworks are evolving, where regulatory concerns arise, and how to manage cross-border payments at the multinational level. That experience directly informs how we interact with major banks and financial regulators in the markets we enter. His insight also shapes which corridors we prioritize. He knows where structural inefficiencies are greatest and where regulatory areas may support infrastructure modernization. Having the G20 remittance policy coordinator on our board ensures that we are building an infrastructure that is consistent with where international payment systems are headed, not just where they are today.

EPI: What tangible cost and speed improvements can one expect with Encryptus compared to traditional channels?

Shantnoo Saxsena: The cost is straightforward. We charge a flat fee of 1.5%, compared to the World Bank’s reported global rate of 6% for traditional remittance channels. Payment speed depends on the tunnel and infrastructure of local banks, but stablecoin-based payments eliminate the multi-day delay introduced by banking chains. In traditional systems, payment may sit in the intermediary’s accounts for 48-72 hours while the banks reconcile and pay. Our infrastructure processes transactions within minutes, although the end-to-end time depends on the local rail system to convert fiat. The real improvement is predictability, where customers know the costs in advance, and compensation is not dependent on processing multiple bank collections.

EPI: With Dilip’s background at the World Bank, do you plan to engage more deeply with multilateral institutions or development finance organizations?

Shantnoo Saxsena: International institutions are increasingly realizing that achieving the UN goal of 3% export costs requires infrastructure reform, not just policy incentives. Development finance organizations are exploring how stablecoin infrastructure can support the goals of financial inclusion in emerging markets. Dilip’s relationship and credibility in that world gives us access to conversations that most fintech companies don’t get. We are a provider of commercial infrastructure, so we do not position ourselves as a development project, but our economy is in line with the development goals of many countries in terms of financial inclusion and the reduction of remittances. Those discussions help us understand where policy frameworks are headed and where institutional funding might support tunnel expansion.

“Interview: Encryptus CEO Shantnoo Saxsena on scaling stablecoin settlement in Africa and Southeast Asia” was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a brand owned by GlobalData.

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