Priya Jaiswal is a titan in the world of global finance, bringing a sharp, analytical eye to the intersection of traditional banking and the fast-paced world of digital assets. With a background that spans high-level portfolio management and deep-market analysis, she has become a leading voice for how modern businesses navigate the complexities of international trade and fintech innovation. In recent years, she has closely monitored the rise of stablecoins and the startups that are finally making global payments as effortless as digital communication. Today, she sheds light on the transformative power of these assets, the shifting tides of venture capital, and how a new generation of fintech leaders is effectively dismantling the hurdles that once made global money movement a slow and expensive ordeal. Our conversation covers the evolution of digital infrastructure, the impact of landmark regulations like the Genius Act, and the practical ways stablecoins are being woven into the fabric of everyday commerce.
Legacy payment processors often grapple with aging infrastructure when adopting digital assets. How are new startups successfully bypassing these traditional hurdles to modernize the payments landscape?
The primary advantage for younger companies is that they aren’t trying to build a skyscraper on a cracked foundation. While industry titans like Visa and Fiserv are undoubtedly powerful, they are often anchored by legacy systems that make adapting to digital schemes a labor-intensive and costly process. In contrast, startups like Rain and MassPay treat blockchain as a native language rather than a foreign add-on, allowing them to either bypass or elegantly incorporate aging rails as needed. For example, Rain has managed to raise an impressive $338 million in equity to build infrastructure that bridges the gap between digital assets and traditional payment networks. This agility allows them to create a “fluid” movement of funds—a sensation that inspired the name Rain itself—giving them a distinct edge in speed and cost-efficiency. By starting with a clean slate, these companies are making inroads into an expansive opportunity that the old guard is still struggling to fully grasp.
The venture capital landscape for stablecoin-focused startups has seen a dramatic shift since 2024. What has changed in the investor mindset that turned a “crazy” idea into a multi-million dollar sector?
A few years ago, raising money for a stablecoin-specific fund was a lonely endeavor because the mainstream financial world hadn’t yet seen the practical utility of the technology. Today, that narrative has been completely flipped by the realization that sending money should be as fast and cheap as sending a text message. We’ve seen funds like Verda Ventures raise $40 million to take minority stakes in about two dozen companies globally, including players like Yellow Card in Africa and Capa in Latin America. The “crazy” label has been replaced by a fundamental belief that the combination of blockchain, mobile phones, and the internet makes instant global payments a certainty. Even major processors like Stripe are now circling the sector for potential acquisitions, proving that the smart money is no longer questioning if stablecoins will work, but rather how quickly they can dominate the market.
Rain has transitioned from serving crypto-native firms to securing partnerships with global names like Western Union and MoneyGram. What does this shift tell us about the current state of institutional adoption?
This transition is a major signal that stablecoin technology has moved beyond the experimental phase and into the realm of mission-critical infrastructure. When Rain first started, their clients were primarily neobanks and fintechs in places like Argentina, where digital assets served as a vital hedge against inflation. However, landing a giant like Western Union last year, followed by MoneyGram and Live Nation this year, shows that even the most established remittance and ticketing firms see the value in this “invisible” technology. Rain’s infrastructure allows these corporate giants to move money from digital assets to traditional rails without the consumer ever feeling the underlying complexity. With a global team of 150 people and a new push to offer custodial wallets by the end of the year, Rain is positioning itself as the regulated backbone of a new financial era.
The Genius Act is frequently cited as a “tipping point” for the industry. How has this specific regulatory framework changed the way companies and consumers approach digital assets?
Before the Genius Act, many institutional players and cautious consumers were essentially sitting on the sidelines, waiting for the regulatory fog to clear. The signing of this law provided the essential clarity that gave companies the confidence to move from pilot programs to full-scale operations. For a CEO like Farooq Malik, it was the green light needed to pursue aggressive growth, including the acquisition of firms like Ansa and applying for a national trust charter with the OCC. This legislation hasn’t just provided a legal roadmap; it has fostered a sense of viability that is crucial for consumer trust. When people believe the system is stable and regulated, they are far more likely to save, spend, and send using these new digital wallets, knowing their assets are protected by a legitimate framework.
MassPay has successfully managed to process tens of billions of dollars annually for the gig economy. What is the sensory or operational experience for a contractor using these stablecoin integrations compared to traditional banking?
For a gig worker or a marketplace seller, the difference is the relief of instant gratification versus the anxiety of a “pending” transaction. MassPay has specialized in connecting to local payment rails and real-time systems across 230 countries, ensuring that a payout for a winning sports bet or a week of freelance work doesn’t get stuck in a banking queue over the weekend. About 10% of their massive annual volume is now processed in stablecoins, specifically because institutions and individuals value the speed and the 24/7 nature of the technology. When you use their integration with tools like Cash App, the transaction feels as snappy as a social media notification rather than a formal bank wire. With 300 corporate clients already on board, MassPay is proving that the gig economy thrives when the friction of the “last mile” is finally removed.
Despite the massive growth in infrastructure, the “last mile” of localization remains a hurdle. How are you seeing companies address the specific needs and preferences of consumers in different global markets?
The “last mile” is where the technical achievement of the blockchain meets the reality of human behavior and local preference. It’s not enough to have a global ledger; you have to ensure that the user experience feels local, whether that’s through integrations with mobile wallets in Africa or specialized payout services for marketplaces in North America. We are seeing a strategic push to invest in regional leaders who understand these nuances, such as Yellow Card’s focus on the African market. The goal is to make the technology so seamless that the user doesn’t even realize they are using a stablecoin; they just know their money arrived on time and in full. As we bridge these gaps, the focus is shifting from building the pipes to perfecting the interface, ensuring that digital assets feel like a natural extension of a person’s financial life.
What is your forecast for the stablecoin industry?
I expect that by the end of this decade, the distinction between a “stablecoin payment” and a “traditional payment” will have largely evaporated for the average consumer. We are already seeing firms like MassPay process tens of billions of dollars annually, and as more companies like Rain obtain national trust charters, the integration with traditional banking will be absolute. The next two years will likely see a massive wave of consolidation as legacy processors acquire the infrastructure startups they once viewed as competition. Ultimately, stablecoins will become the invisible global standard for value transfer, reducing the cost of cross-border remittances to near-zero and providing a level of financial inclusion that was previously impossible. The era of waiting days for a wire transfer is coming to a definitive end, replaced by a world where capital moves at the speed of thought.
