Three fintech firms: Starlynk Group, Changer.ae, and Quantoz Payments have announced strategic partnerships designed to reshape the landscape of cross-border stablecoin payment. The agreements, signed through memoranda of understanding (MOUs), are intended to create compliant and scalable rails for stablecoin settlements in key global markets.
Under the arrangements, Starlynk and Changer.ae will provide regulated AED on/off-ramp services, allowing businesses and consumers to settle in stablecoins across Asia, the Middle East, and other Muslim-majority markets. Meanwhile, Starlynk and Quantoz will integrate their infrastructures to enhance liquidity and circulation of MiCA-compliant stablecoins, building corridors that connect Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
These partnerships come at a pivotal moment as governments and financial regulators scrutinize stablecoin adoption under frameworks like the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.
UAE-Europe corridor signals regulatory progress
One of the most notable outcomes of the agreements is the creation of the first regulated UAE-Europe corridor for cross-border stablecoin payment. This effort combines Changer.ae’s licensed custody, conversion, and escrow services with Quantoz’s electronic money and stablecoin infrastructure.
Hao Wang, CEO of Changer.ae, highlighted the need for regulatory compliance in a statement:
“Enterprises need compliant, end-to-end rails between local currencies and regulated stablecoins. With these MOUs, we are pairing AED on/off-ramps, custody, and escrow with settlement, allowing importers, exporters, and merchants to move value between the UAE and Europe with speed, clarity, and robust compliance,” — Hao Wang, CEO, Changer.ae, via company release.
This development reflects the UAE’s ambition to become a hub for digital finance. The region has already attracted leading players such as Binance and Ripple, with regulators encouraging digital asset innovation while maintaining oversight.
The partnerships are not limited to financial corridors; they are also beginning to impact the retail sector. Luxury lifestyle brand Shanghai Tang has become the first international retailer to accept payments in EURQ and USDQ stablecoins.
Through its collaboration with Starlynk, Changer.ae, and Quantoz, the retailer will allow customers to use stablecoins for purchases in select boutiques and on e-commerce platforms across Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe, and the United States.
Arnoud Star Busmann, CEO of Quantoz Payments, underscored the broader implications:
“We are proud that our stablecoin usage is continuing to expand and being adopted as means of exchange. With Starlynk and Changer we aim to turn our regulated digital money into practical payment rails, and with Shanghai Tang we are literally taking this to the shop floor and checkout. EURQ and USDQ can now help merchants and enterprises settle faster and cheaper with more transparency and choice,” — Arnoud Star Busmann, CEO, Quantoz Payments, in company statement.
For crypto investors, the move signals an increasing mainstream use case for stablecoins beyond trading positioning them as reliable instruments for everyday payments and global commerce.
The global stablecoin market has grown rapidly, now exceeding $160 billion in circulation according to CoinGecko. Yet, cross-border usage has been hampered by concerns over money laundering, lack of oversight, and volatility.
The Starlynk, Changer.ae, and Quantoz partnerships aim to tackle these issues head-on by embedding compliance into every layer of the transaction process. By aligning with MiCA standards in Europe and local regulations in the Middle East, the initiative seeks to build trust among regulators, merchants, and consumers.
non-MiCA-compliant stablecoins
The road ahead for global adoption
While the partnerships mark significant progress, challenges remain. Governments worldwide continue to debate how to regulate digital assets, with the U.S. Treasury and European Central Bank raising concerns about financial stability and capital flight.
Still, by bridging regions with compliant infrastructure, the three firms are carving a path forward. For businesses engaged in global trade, the ability to move value seamlessly across borders in stablecoins could reduce costs, accelerate settlement times, and minimize reliance on intermediaries.
If successful, these partnerships could serve as a blueprint for other corridors from Africa to Latin America paving the way for a new era of digital finance anchored by regulated cross-border stablecoin payment solutions.
Conclusion
The collaboration between Starlynk, Changer.ae, and Quantoz represents a decisive step toward institutionalizing cross-border stablecoin payment. By integrating compliance, liquidity, and retail adoption, the partnerships demonstrate how digital money can transition from speculative assets to practical tools for global commerce.
With luxury retailers like Shanghai Tang already adopting stablecoins at the point of sale, and with regulated corridors forming between Europe and the Middle East, the future of cross-border stablecoin payment looks increasingly tangible.