Zebec x Privy x Hypernative: Building AML Compliant Payment Structure

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Zebec Network
@Zebec_HQDec 13, 2025

The Spaces featured Ben hosting Simon (Zebec), Cam (Privy), and Alex (Hypernative) to unpack Zebec’s new partnerships and what they enable for real-time payroll, embedded wallets, and institutional-grade compliance. Simon framed the session around integrating Privy’s wallet infrastructure into the Zebec Super App to deliver a seamless, crypto-invisible user experience (social logins, background key management), paired with Stripe’s global payment rails and USDC support. Cam detailed Privy’s API-driven, embedded wallets with flexible custody (non-custodial, custodial, hybrid), robust policy engine, multi-chain support, and enterprise use cases spanning neo-banking, remittances, yield, and card spend—highlighting recent partners like Klarna. Alex explained Hypernative’s real-time, preventive AML and wallet screening, which predicts and blocks risk pre-execution and continuously alerts on changing conditions, moving compliance from cost center to growth enabler. Simon emphasized Zebec’s institutional momentum (e.g., Deutsche Bank integration, acquisition of Gate Knox for KYC/KYB), the importance of 100% AML effectiveness, and a phased Super App rollout starting January to expand into retail. Looking five years ahead, all agreed on blockchain-blind UX, stablecoin proliferation, payroll-to-DeFi wage financing, and assimilation of security with convenience across commerce and finance.

Zebec x Privy x Hypernative Twitter Spaces – Summary and Notes

Participants

  • Ben (Host)
  • Simon (Zebec)
  • Cam (Privy)
  • Alex (Hypernative)
  • Co-host (name not stated)

Framing and Objectives (Simon)

  • Purpose: Introduce Zebec’s newest partners—Privy (wallet infrastructure) and Hypernative (AML/wallet screening)—and explain how these integrations advance Zebec’s network, users, and clients.
  • Strategic context: Both partners are key elements of Zebec’s future infrastructure, especially for scaling real-time stablecoin payroll and launching the Zebec "super app."

Privy x Zebec Partnership

  • Why Privy (Simon):
    • Embedded wallet infrastructure integrated into the Zebec super app.
    • Seamless onboarding via social logins; private key management is abstracted; users shouldn’t feel like they’re using Web3.
    • Institutional readiness: Compliant, “battle-tested” solution aligned with Stripe’s global footprint; helps service enterprises and institutions.
    • Privy + Stripe rails viewed as the most sensible stack for Zebec after extensive diligence across providers.
  • Privy product overview (Cam):
    • Wallet infrastructure/API enabling companies to programmatically provision embedded, white-labeled wallets.
    • Flexible custody models: non-custodial, custodial, and hybrid with the ability to toggle; important for serving diverse geographies and use cases.
    • Robust policy engine; multi-chain and multi-asset support.
    • Enables dollar-denominated account systems: seamless movement between fiat, stablecoins, and other digital assets via simple APIs.
    • Common use cases: neo-banking, remittance, consumer financial apps, payroll.
    • Capabilities include dollar store of value, yield, multi-currency, card spend.
  • Privy’s go-to-market and co-building approach (Cam):
    • Often “tip of the spear” with global enterprises exploring stablecoin rails.
    • Acts as a design partner, shaping product alongside clients’ requirements.
  • Selected customers/partners (Cam):
    • Crypto-native: Hyperliquid, Pumpkon, Blackbird, OpenSea.
    • Fintech/enterprise: Announced partnership with Klarna; also serving Dakota and multiple fintechs across neo banking, payroll, remittances.
  • Payroll impact (Simon):
    • Goal: Invisible crypto experience—employees receive real-time stablecoin payroll in Zebec and can spend via Stripe-connected ecommerce without needing a bank account or credit card.
    • Onboarding and usage should feel like a familiar fintech app experience.

Stripe Context and Stablecoin Rails (Simon)

  • Stripe scale: ~$1.4T annual payment volume across ~40 countries.
  • Interpretation: Stripe’s acquisition of Privy (as characterized by Simon) signals scaled adoption of Web3 infrastructure.
  • USDC via Stripe network (alongside Circle) is an indicator of positioning within the global stablecoin race.

Hypernative x Zebec Integration

  • Company background (Alex):
    • Career spanning financial services, cyber, and on-chain security; last decade in cyber, eight years in on-chain/institutional crypto.
    • Hypernative originated in real-time smart contract security monitoring; expanded into risk management for protocols, chains, crypto orgs, and large institutions (PSPs, GSIBs).
  • AML and wallet screening capabilities (Alex):
    • Preventive and proactive security/compliance delivered in real time.
    • Detects wallet behavior and transaction risk before execution or settlement; reliably predicts and prevents issues in advance.
    • Continuous monitoring and real-time alerts on environmental changes affecting operations/interactions.
    • Focus is not just determining good/bad counterparties but tracking how risk changes over time.
  • Business impact beyond compliance (Alex):
    • Security traditionally seen as a cost center, but Hypernative enables differentiated services and new revenue opportunities (value-added features clients can monetize).
  • Institutional demand and buying centers (Alex):
    • Recent recapitalization by leading cybersecurity/risk VCs (institutional investors).
    • Market shift: from innovation experiments to production-grade projects with budgets owned by traditional buying centers (security, risk, GRC, compliance) and nine-figure P&Ls.
    • Institutions aren’t just “coming”—they’re here.
  • Zebec implementation (Simon):
    • Hypernative fills a gap Zebec did not have in-house: wallet screening and AML.
    • Non-negotiable for institutional payments: rock-solid AML processes.
    • Integration planned across the Zebec super app and Zebec Cards in the coming weeks.
    • Performance expectation: aiming for 100% AML success (no tolerance for illicit flows).

Zebec Compliance and Ecosystem Notes (Simon)

  • Gate Knox acquisition (2025):
    • KYC/KYB specialist integrated across Zebec’s stack.
  • Institutional relationships:
    • Deutsche Bank integration completed in September.
  • Compliance achievements:
    • Major certifications attained during the year to meet institutional requirements.

Future Outlook (5 Years)

  • Simon (Zebec):
    • Privy integration as an inflection point: expands beyond serving businesses to onboarding more retail users via the Zebec super app.
    • Super app phase rollout beginning January; Zebec to feel like a neo-bank/fintech app.
    • Hypernative rounds out the compliance stack; entering 2026 with high confidence in best-in-class product and ability to engage larger global firms.
  • Cam (Privy):
    • Proliferation of stablecoins globally with users often unaware they’re using blockchain—UX abstraction will be complete.
    • Payroll + DeFi primitives: wage-based financing that’s affordable and globally accessible; reduce reliance on cumbersome/expensive local banking partners.
    • Employees paid in stablecoins can earn yield, spend via card, and access financing—practical, impactful on everyday financial lives in emerging markets.
  • Alex (Hypernative):
    • Full assimilation: convergence of Web2/Web3/TradFi/DeFi will be complete; users won’t care what chain or protocol underpins their experience.
    • UX-centric future: security without compromising convenience—real-time ongoing insights support delightful, efficient experiences.

Key Announcements and Highlights

  • Zebec partnerships: Privy (wallet infrastructure) and Hypernative (AML/wallet screening).
  • Privy announced partnership with Klarna.
  • Zebec acquired Gate Knox (2025) for KYC/KYB.
  • Deutsche Bank integration (September).
  • Zebec super app phase rollout begins in January.
  • Hypernative integration into the Zebec super app and Zebec Cards coming in the next weeks.

Core Takeaways

  • Embedded, invisible wallet infrastructure is essential for mass adoption; real-time payments are the primary user hook.
  • Institutional-grade compliance (AML, KYC/KYB) is mandatory to scale payments; Hypernative provides proactive, real-time protection.
  • Stripe-scale rails plus USDC support indicate mainstreaming of stablecoin commerce.
  • Privy’s flexible custody and policy controls enable diverse global use cases (neo-banking, remittances, payroll) with a simple, abstracted UX.
  • Institutions are no longer experimenting—they’re deploying production-grade, compliant solutions.

Watchpoints and Considerations

  • Regulatory evolution around AML, KYC/KYB and stablecoins as institutional volumes increase.
  • Execution of Zebec’s super app rollout and retail onboarding quality (UX, compliance, scalability).
  • Continued integration depth across partners (Privy/Stripe rails; Hypernative real-time protections) and expansion to cards/ecommerce.
  • Adoption metrics for real-time payroll and spending flows versus traditional banking/card usage.