Cross-Border Payments with Fasset

@Zebec_HQJan 15, 2026

The Spaces explored the accelerating shift in crypto adoption (2024–2026) from speculation to real infrastructure and regulated distribution. Host Ben framed the thesis: stablecoins, payroll, cards, RWAs and compliant rails are being integrated by banks, telcos and governments rather than bypassing them. Simon from Zebec connected this to Zebec’s global expansion and payroll streaming, highlighting compliance milestones and how tokenized stocks can be a wedge into stablecoin payroll. Guest Daniel Ahmed (Facet co-founder/COO) detailed Facet’s Web2.5 approach: bridging regulated access to tokenized assets for underbanked markets, with licenses across major emerging economies, deep partnerships with banks/telcos, and a footprint of 125 countries, ~$5B annualized volume in 2025, and a target of 3M users. Facet’s stack spans crypto, metals, stocks, bonds, currencies and funds, with a safe‑asset emphasis (tokenized gold leading). Daniel outlined Facet’s upcoming chain to unify asset distribution and settlements across L2s (akin to a network layer, not a TPS race). The session closed with clear synergy: Zebec’s payroll and streaming plus Facet’s compliant distribution to unlock the next billion users, and a call to follow Facet, try the app, and watch for token and feature launches.

Zebec x Facet Twitter Spaces — Summary and Notes

Participants and Roles

Ben (Host, Zebec): Moderated the session, framed the macro thesis on crypto adoption and guided product- and partnership-focused questions.
Simon (Zebec leadership): Provided Zebec’s strategic context, compliance progress, and partnership synergy with Facet for international expansion and payroll streaming.
Daniel Ahmed (Co-founder & COO, Facet): Shared Facet’s origin, regulatory strategy, market footprint, product stack, and plans for an RWA-focused chain; emphasized real-world utility and institutional integration.
Unidentified co-host/producer: Handled technical checks and closing remarks.

Opening Context and Thesis

Ben’s framing: 2024–2026 marks a transition from retail-driven speculation to adoption propelled by real infrastructure: payroll settlement, cards, stablecoin payments, RWAs, and tokenization. Banks, telcos, and government-linked institutions are integrating crypto rather than being disrupted by it.
Simon’s validation: Last year (2025) highlighted stablecoins as a core theme. Conferences and stakeholders are echoing the same sentiments—global finance is moving on-chain. Zebec is expanding internationally and views Facet as a key banking partner to enable global scale.

Facet Origin and Mission (Daniel)

Multifaceted view of crypto: Not just a speculative asset or payments layer—crypto solves diverse financial services use cases: payments, savings, investments, spending, and cross-border movement.
Founders’ background: Western upbringing (London/LA) with roots in Pakistan/Bangladesh; focus on the plight of underbanked populations across Asia, Africa, and LATAM.
Problem definition: Roughly 1 in 3 (≈34%) in these regions are unbanked or underbanked—limited access to safe savings/investments and global assets.
Web 2.5 approach: Bridging Web2 and Web3 to link DeFi with real-world finance; compliance-first architecture to operate legally and sustainably.
Tokenization catalyst: Originated from government tech work in the UAE (Prime Minister’s Office) exploring AI, big data, blockchain; became fascinated with tokenization and built infrastructure (not just front ends), prioritizing VASP licensing and compliance.
Persistence through cycles: Built through 2021–2023 booms/busts; now holds multiple VASP licenses in major EMs (e.g., Indonesia) and has engaged Pakistani regulators for years, helping shift thinking toward on-chain financial rails.

Market Footprint and Metrics (Daniel)

Geographic coverage: “Morocco to Malaysia” — core focus on Africa and Asia, with LATAM on the horizon.
User presence: Customers in 125+ countries; regulatory coverage across markets amounting to access for close to 2 billion people via partners and licenses.
Operating scale: Team of 100+ across 10 offices.
Volume and growth: Exceeded $5B in annualized volume (2025); expects 2–3x growth in the current year.
Customer targets: Aiming for ~3 million registered users with 15–20% active usage.
Institutional platform: Businesses and traders move significant funds using stablecoins, complementing the retail platform (virtual IBANs, cards, tokenized assets).

Why Facet Succeeds in Restricted Markets (Daniel)

Commoditized tech, differentiated relationships: Building an exchange/card is relatively straightforward; the real moat lies in relationships, regulatory alignment, and banking integrations to settle fiat.
Regulator value proposition: Delivering something tangibly beneficial (FDI, compliant savings/investment access). Example: In Kenya, working with top-tier investors and the largest mobile money wallet to tokenize infrastructure assets with government stakeholders, aiming to attract foreign capital.
Avoiding speculative traps: Not a trading-centric exchange; focuses on utility (savings, safe investments) to prevent the outcome where many retail users lose money chasing volatility.

Asset Stack and Product Offering (Daniel)

Internal framework: “CMSBC” — Crypto, Metals, Stocks, Bonds, Currencies; expanded to include Funds.
Offering philosophy: Broad access similar to multi-asset platforms (e.g., oil, gas, metals, equities, ETFs), but curated to emphasize safe or best-performing assets, reducing extreme volatility exposure.
User behavior: Assets abstracted as “investments” rather than “tokens,” supporting saving and growth mindsets over speculative 50x narratives.
Top holdings: Tokenized gold is the largest-held asset; Bitcoin follows. Recent surge in interest for a silver ETF aligns with market pricing.
Market access gap solved: Example—Pakistani users can buy Apple products but not Apple stock via local channels. Blockchain and proper KYC/AML enable compliant cross-border access to global assets, building generational wealth opportunities previously unavailable.

Facet’s RWA Chain (“OWN”) Strategy (Daniel)

Goal: Ownership-focused chain and token (OWN) aligned with asset ownership, chain participation, and user-controlled financial services.
Positioning: The chain is secondary to the network breadth. Not competing on TPS hype; the value lies in unifying distribution of tokenized assets across multiple chains (Polygon, Ethereum) and simplifying settlement between fiat on/off ramps.
SWIFT-like ambition: Building rails that unify and streamline value transfer for tokenized assets, with deep integrations and compliance across jurisdictions; collaborating with existing L2s rather than creating yet another isolated layer.

Zebec Perspective and Partnership Synergies (Simon)

International expansion: Zebec’s payroll and streaming payments have been US-centric; partnering with Facet unlocks major contractor/remittance markets.
Product wedge: Tokenized stocks act as a wedge to drive stablecoin payroll volume; users comfortable trading/investing on-chain will increasingly accept salaries in USDC (or equivalents), reinvesting seamlessly in the same app.
Compliance track record: Zebec completed SOC 2, MiCA, and ISO standards within six months, enabling institutional onboarding and expanding partnerships.
Roadmap fit: Zebec’s evolution—from protocol to payments network to global financial ecosystem—requires regional partners with licenses and local expertise. Access to Facet’s sizable active user base (targeted in the millions) will accelerate global reach.
Product integrations: Facet app to implement Zebec features throughout the year, beginning with the ZBCN token and expanding into the Zebec ecosystem.

Notable Partnerships and Pipeline (Daniel)

Licenses in progress: Kenya, South Africa, Turkey, Kazakhstan expected in the coming months.
GTM playbook per market: Anchor relationships with 1–2 major banks and 1–2 major telcos for distribution and credibility; each partner’s crypto appetite differs (from tokenized gold/stocks to full wallets with buy/sell/save/invest).
Example partners:
- UAE: Working closely with a large local bank.
- Bahrain: Collaboration with a prominent money exchange serving ~80,000 monthly remittance users, offering tokenized gold/assets as savings alongside remittances.
- Global telco group: Near-term announcement of a multi-market crypto wallet rollout (comprehensive functionality covering buy/sell/save/invest).
Industry trend: Some banks pursue their own licenses (e.g., a major German bank securing retail custody licensing), while others prefer integrating with licensed providers like Facet to de-risk experimentation and accelerate time-to-market.

Compliance and Regulatory Emphasis

Facet: Multiple VASP licenses, country-specific regulatory engagement, and durable compliance-first design to avoid shutdown risks.
Zebec: Rapid completion of SOC 2, MiCA, ISO; institutional-grade onboarding; platform built to meet stringent requirements in diverse jurisdictions.

Key Takeaways and Highlights

Macro shift: Adoption fueled by infrastructure (RWAs, stablecoins, payroll, cards, and compliant rails) rather than speculative hype.
Access unlock: Facet enables compliant cross-border access to savings/investment assets for underbanked/locked-out populations; tokenization delivers democratized global asset access.
Partnership strength: Zebec + Facet combine “flow” (payroll streaming and payments) with “access” (regulated distribution of tokenized assets), creating a powerful on-ramp for the next billion users.
Chain pragmatism: Facet’s OWN chain emphasizes network unification and settlement across multi-chain tokenized assets; it’s a connective layer, not a TPS arms race.
Distribution-first: Banks and telcos are the key distribution channels in EMs; education, compliance, and tailored use cases drive adoption.

Next Steps and Calls to Action

For users and community:
- Follow Facet on X and other channels for upcoming announcements (licenses, telco wallet rollout, OWN chain/token).
- Download and test the Facet app; provide feedback on user experience and asset access.
- Watch for Facet’s token launch in the coming months.
- Track Zebec’s integrations in the Facet app (starting with ZBCN token) and broader ecosystem access.
For institutions and partners:
- Engage with Zebec and Facet for compliant, scalable distribution of tokenized assets, payroll streaming, remittances, and multi-asset wallets across Africa, Asia, and beyond.

Closing Notes

Consensus from Ben, Simon, and Daniel: The on-ramps for the next billion users are RWAs, stablecoins, payroll, cards, banking/telco rails, and strong compliance. Emerging markets will drive demographic and economic growth over the next decades, and building for real utility positions both Zebec and Facet at the leading edge of that transformation.