Series A funding

SBI Group’s entry into dtcpay’s funding round signals institutional backing for stablecoin payments infrastructure at a moment when the sector is proving out merchant acceptance and cross-border settlement capabilities. The $25 million Series A close positions a Singapore fintech to compete for payments volume across Asia and Europe with backing from a major Japanese financial institution.

• Dtcpay completed a $25 million Series A with SBI Group joining as strategic investor alongside Vertex Ventures and others.
• SBI Ventures and the SBI-NTU-Kyobo Digital Innovation Fund represent the Japanese group’s investment vehicles in the round.
• Capital will fund enterprise portal redesign, consumer app features, and merchant network expansion for stablecoin transactions.

• $25M Total Series A funding for dtcpay stablecoin payments platform
• 150M+ Merchant locations accepting dtcpay Visa card globally
• 2 Regulatory licenses held by dtcpay in Singapore and Luxembourg
• Sept 18 Date dtcpay announced Series A funding close

CryptoSlate reported that dtcpay, a Singapore-based payments company, closed its Series A on September 18 (Saturday), bringing total funding to $25 million. SBI Ventures Asset Pte Ltd and the SBI-NTU-Kyobo Digital Innovation Fund joined the round as strategic investors, complementing earlier backing from Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India, which led the initial tranche. Existing investor Kwee Liong Tek and Genedant Capital also participated, though the company did not disclose individual contribution sizes or its valuation.

SBI’s Strategic Push Into Japan-Southeast Asia Digital Assets

SBI Ven Capital CEO Eiichiro So framed the investment as the opening of a strategic partnership tied to SBI’s broader ambitions in digital-asset origination between Japan and Southeast Asia.

The investment connects SBI’s regional ambitions with dtcpay’s existing payment business.

SBI Ven Capital CEO Eiichiro So, SBI Ventures

SBI’s participation positions the Japanese financial services conglomerate to build regulated infrastructure for cross-border stablecoin settlement, a capability dtcpay is actively developing. The two parties have not announced a Japan launch date, keeping the partnership’s geographic expansion primarily theoretical at this stage.

Product Roadmap and Merchant Expansion Frame the Capital Deployment

Dtcpay plans to deploy the Series A funding toward three concrete objectives: a redesigned business portal for enterprise customers, expanded features in its consumer app, and growth of its merchant network. The company currently holds a Major Payment Institution license from Singapore’s Monetary Authority and an Electronic Money Institution license in Luxembourg, regulatory approvals that enable it to operate across multiple jurisdictions.

Dtcpay’s merchant relationships include Singapore department store Metro and hospitality brand Capella Singapore. The company also offers a Visa card enabling stablecoin and fiat transactions at more than 150 million merchant locations worldwide, a figure that describes card network reach rather than merchants directly integrated with dtcpay’s platform. The announcement provided no payment-volume metrics, leaving the scale of activity through each channel undisclosed.

Vertex’s Earlier Tranche and European Expansion Plans Set Stage for SBI Entry

Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India had previously led a $10 million Series A tranche, announced on March 17 (Friday), establishing product development and European expansion as stated priorities.

SBI’s participation extends rather than redirects that trajectory, adding Japan and broader Southeast Asia ambitions to an existing international growth plan. Dtcpay founder and CEO Alice Liu emphasized the financing’s role in changing cross-border money movement, while co-founder and group chairman Band Zhao named stronger infrastructure, deeper financial-institution partnerships, and entry into additional regulated markets as priorities. The announcement did not specify how the $25 million will be allocated among product development, geographic expansion, and merchant acquisition.

The BlockWest read. SBI’s check signals institutional confidence in stablecoin settlement infrastructure but leaves open whether the Japanese group will deploy its own balance sheet to acquire merchant relationships or settle transactions itself. The partnership’s value depends on SBI converting its regional network into actual payment volume for dtcpay’s infrastructure, a step neither party has committed to on a timeline.

Watch for a dtcpay launch or regulatory filing in Japan, or an announcement of integration with SBI-affiliated payment channels, which would demonstrate whether SBI’s strategic investor role translates into material transaction flow within the next 12 months.