⛵️ Zebec Network: Post-Conference Recap & Roadmap

The Spaces provided a fast, comprehensive update from Ben (host) and Simon (Zebec) on a month packed with institutional digital-asset developments and product progress. Highlights included media engagements with the Financial Times and the Independent; insights from SWIFT’s Cbos, where blockchain took center stage and institutions advanced tokenization plans; and Zebec’s evolution from payroll into a broader real-time finance infrastructure. Simon detailed meetings in San Francisco on AI, including work with Semian AI toward an agentic payroll/HR layer, and advanced a partnership with Stellar for native streaming. In London’s Digital Asset Summit, Zebec contributed to policy talking points and explored exchange-listed product options. In Zurich, Zebec deepened custody ties with Signum Bank, aligning with major U.S. custodians. On product and growth, Zebec launched a U.S. direct deposit program with Uphold, XRP, and Role Mobile, is pushing its “super app” to ship by year-end with seamless on/off ramps, and is expanding its Ondo partnership to enable USDY yield on idle balances and tokenized stock access. The session closed with plans for a major November Spaces focused on stablecoins and continued cadence of institutional, compliance-first integrations.

Zebec institutional month-in-review: comprehensive recap and takeaways

Participants and context

• Host: Ben (moderator/interviewer)
• Guest: Simon (Zebec executive, leading global partner and institutional engagement)
• Co-host: Speaker 2 (name not stated; co-host who briefly highlighted community and card releases)

The session recapped an intensive month of institutional engagements, media outreach, and product progress for Zebec, spanning SWIFT’s annual Cbos event, meetings in San Francisco, London’s Digital Asset Summit, and a Zurich event with Signum Bank. The conversation emphasized the accelerating convergence of banks, governments, and blockchain infrastructure—particularly around stablecoins, tokenization, and compliant custody—and how Zebec’s real-time finance stack is positioned to serve these needs beyond its initial payroll focus.

Media and narrative shift

• Simon met with the Financial Times and The Independent, reflecting strong top-tier media inbound as banks and governments compete to enter the stablecoin market.
• Objective: Expand public understanding and trust in blockchain-based payments by showcasing mature, compliant products and institutional-grade integrations.
• Narrative pivot: From “Is crypto viable?” to “How do we integrate responsibly?” Zebec is positioned as a compliant, plug-in entry point to major networks for remittances, tokenization, and settlement.

Conference and roadshow highlights

SWIFT’s Cbos (Frankfurt)

• Attendees: Global banking community, infrastructure providers like DTCC and Euroclear, global banks, money managers; Zebec exhibited with team members Neil and Elena.
• Key signal: Blockchain was “front and center.” SWIFT announced a blockchain-based ledger system in partnership with Chainlink, enabling financial institutions to connect to blockchain networks globally.
• Institutional tokenization: Banks confirmed major plans; DTCC’s Composer X is innovating settlement of tokenized securities with an expectation of $16T in tokenized securities by decade’s end (larger than the US payroll market at ~$11T).
• Implications for Zebec:
  • From payroll to real-time finance rails: When institutions transact with tokenized assets, tokenized payroll and streaming payments become a natural extension.
  • Streaming architecture unlocks real-time conversion of tokenized payroll into securities and the ability to receive dividends/payouts in real time, all settled on-chain.
  • Traditional remittance players issuing stablecoins on Solana (announced the prior day) validate Zebec’s early infrastructure choices and readiness to interconnect with large networks.

San Francisco meetings

• AI integration:
  • Zebec is developing an agentic AI layer (working with a company referred to as “semi and AI”) across payroll and HR products.
  • Target outcomes: Automate HR/ops workflows (e.g., entering payroll amounts, updating payout methods, basic compliance/tax checks), reducing operating expenses for corporates and accelerating stablecoin payroll adoption.
  • Timeline: A few quarters until fully launched.
• Stellar partnership:
  • Follow-up from Cbos: Partnership now extends beyond card products to launching native streaming on the Stellar blockchain.
  • Details to be announced in the coming weeks.

Digital Asset Summit (London)

• Attendance: Strong participation from blockchain and payments communities; presence of political leaders.
• Zebec contributed talking points to certain keynotes (names not disclosed), reflecting its growing policy influence in the UK on stablecoin policy and crypto regulatory frameworks under active development.
• Exchange-listed product exploration:
  • Significant institutional interest in Zebec, but many investors lack digital asset custody setups.
  • Zebec is assessing equity-linked structures or other exchange-listed avenues to provide exposure to the token, seeking the right platform and structure.

Zurich with Signum Bank

• Signum’s profile: A leading European crypto custodian based in Zurich; among the first to bridge web3 experiences to traditional, regulated Swiss banking.
• Market activity: Active RFPs with 21 US banks; plans to white-label crypto custody for traditional US banks.
• Regulatory tailwind: Since the “Genius Act” passed (as referenced), demand has accelerated—mirroring broader payroll-side demand.
• Zebec custody expansion: Onboarding the ZBCN token into Signum’s custody program, complementing existing partners (Anchorage Digital, Caleb & Brown, others).
• Strategic takeaway: Compliance and scalable custody are foundational for institutional adoption; Zebec is aligning with leading custodians to support banks and investors.

Product and partnership updates

Uphold partnership and direct deposit program

• Deep, ongoing partnership with Uphold, alongside XRP and Role Mobile.
• New program: US-only direct deposit into Uphold with a 6% bonus on funds deposited—an incentive to unwrap fiat payroll into digital assets, even if an employer does not yet offer Zebec crypto payroll.
• Community engagement: A dedicated Spaces with Uphold is planned to explain mechanics. Zebec will also celebrate the start of the NBA season through the Uphold partnership, with the first game in early November.

Super app progress

• Vision: Go beyond “a Revolut for web3”—become a de facto financial management tool that can replace a bank account for retail users.
• Focus areas:
  • Seamless on-/off-ramps integrated into the app.
  • Exploring integrations with Mesh’s platform and potentially selling stablecoin plans in the US to streamline top-ups and usage.
  • Strong UX emphasis to drive mass adoption.
• Timeline: Targeting shipment of version 1 by year-end.

Stellar streaming

• Native streaming functionality is being launched on Stellar (details forthcoming), extending beyond earlier card product integrations.

Ondo integration (USDY)

• Expanding integration of Ondo’s USDY stablecoin across Zebec cards and the super app.
• Utility:
  • Enable users to earn yield on idle balances via simple conversion to USDY within Zebec apps.
  • Provide direct access to tokenized stocks through Ondo.
• Goal: Increase card/app balances and drive broader adoption by offering competitive, on-chain yield and tokenized asset access.

Branded cards and community collaborations

• “Nobody Sausage” shout-out and the release of a “nobody” custom card emphasized Zebec’s broadening consumer-facing footprint and culture/community engagement.

Regulatory and market outlook

• Policy traction: UK stablecoin policy and broader crypto framework are being shaped with industry input from players like Zebec.
• Institutional readiness: With SWIFT/Chainlink connectivity, DTCC tokenization initiatives, and custodians like Signum, Anchorage Digital, and Caleb & Brown, the infrastructure is maturing quickly for compliant, on-chain finance.
• Custody as a linchpin: Secure, regulated custody remains a critical enabler for banks, corporates, and first-time digital asset investors; Zebec underscores this repeatedly.
• Near-term community engagement: Zebec is planning a major Spaces in November with leading partners focused on stablecoins and the 12-month outlook, reflecting recent government and institutional developments.

Implications for Zebec’s positioning

• From payroll to full-stack real-time finance:
  • Rail builder: Zebec aims to be the compliant gateway connecting businesses to global remittance networks, tokenization, on-chain settlement, and yield-bearing instruments.
  • Tokenized capital markets: Streaming payroll can seamlessly feed into tokenized securities purchases and real-time dividend streams.
• Competitive advantage: Early investment in streaming architecture and compliance-first integrations positions Zebec to interoperate with industry giants as blockchain rails standardize.

What to watch next (timelines and milestones)

• Coming weeks:
  • Stellar partnership announcements (native streaming on Stellar).
  • Spaces with Uphold to detail the direct deposit program (US-only; 6% bonus) and NBA season tie-ins.
  • Further media coverage following FT/Independent engagements.
• November:
  • Major industry Spaces focused on stablecoins with top partners.
• Year-end:
  • Target launch of the super app v1 with enhanced on/off ramps and improved UX.
• 2026:
  • Framed as a potentially “huge year” for Zebec, with current groundwork expected to compound.

Quick reference: key organizations mentioned

• Infrastructure and markets: SWIFT (Cbos), DTCC (Composer X), Euroclear, Chainlink.
• Blockchains and partners: Stellar, Solana.
• Custody: Signum Bank (Zurich), Anchorage Digital, Caleb & Brown.
• Payments/exchanges: Uphold.
• Stablecoin/yield: Ondo (USDY).
• Telecom/fintech tie-in: Role Mobile.
• Media: Financial Times, The Independent.
• Community/culture: Nobody Sausage (custom “nobody” card).

Closing sentiment

• Simon emphasized that Zebec’s team is working around the clock to convert institutional momentum and partnerships into shipped products. The next two months should bring substantial updates across AI integrations, Stellar streaming, custody expansion, the super app, and community activations. The company’s strategy continues to center on compliant, real-time financial rails that connect payroll, remittance, tokenization, settlement, and yield—positioning Zebec to support the next wave of banks, enterprises, and users entering on-chain finance.