Zebec Network and MoneyGram Launch Global Stablecoin Payroll Cash-Out on Stellar

Zebec Network has integrated MoneyGram Ramps into its enterprise payroll platform, utilizing the Stellar network to bridge digital stablecoin payments with physical cash. This move provides a critical fiat off-ramp for contractors and employees globally, allowing them to convert digital payroll accruals into local currency at physical retail locations without requiring traditional bank accounts.

What was announced

Zebec Network, the Stellar Development Foundation, and MoneyGram have launched a combined solution that integrates MoneyGram Ramps into Zebec’s enterprise payroll infrastructure. This integration marks MoneyGram as the first fiat off-ramp for Zebec’s Stellar-based payroll experience, effectively connecting the digital-native workforce to physical cash for everyday transactions. Through Zebec’s native deployment on the Stellar network, employers are now able to stream payments to employees and contractors in stablecoins. This "streaming" model allows recipients to see funds enter their digital wallets in real-time as payroll accrues, rather than waiting for traditional monthly or bi-weekly cycles.

Once the funds are in their digital wallets, users have several options for managing their earnings. They can retain the digital value, transfer it to other wallets, or spend it directly through supported Zebec card products. Crucially, the integration with MoneyGram Ramps allows these users to access their funds in local currency at participating MoneyGram locations in more than 170 countries and territories. The service facilitates USDC cash-in and cash-out on the Stellar network, enabling the conversion of digital-dollar balances into physical cash without the necessity of a traditional bank account. This global reach is supported by MoneyGram’s extensive retail network, though availability remains subject to local laws and participating location status.

"The Stellar network provides the payments infrastructure, MoneyGram extends that infrastructure into local fiat access, and Zebec brings the employer and recipient experience together,"

Simon Babakhani, CEO of Zebec Network.

The companies involved

MoneyGram is a prominent player in the global payments sector, known for its extensive cross-border peer-to-peer transfer capabilities and its recent pivot toward bridging traditional fiat with digital assets. The company operates a vast retail network that spans the globe, providing essential financial services to millions of users, particularly those in underserved or unbanked regions. FF News has followed MoneyGram’s evolution closely, with 19 previous reports covering its strategic shifts and technological integrations.

The Stellar Development Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports the development and growth of Stellar, an open-source network that connects the world’s financial infrastructure. Stellar is designed to facilitate the fast, low-cost transfer of value, making it a preferred choice for stablecoin issuance and asset tokenization. FF News has published 12 stories regarding the foundation's initiatives. Zebec Network, also known as z.network, specializes in enterprise-grade payroll solutions and real-time streaming payments. Led by CEO Simon Babakhani, the company focuses on modernizing how labor is compensated by utilizing blockchain technology to provide instantaneous liquidity to workers.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has tracked the expansion of MoneyGram’s digital asset services, recently reporting on how MoneyGram Ramps Goes Multichain with Solana Launch to Bridge Cash and Crypto. This previous coverage highlighted the company's strategy to provide cash-to-crypto bridges across multiple blockchain ecosystems. Additionally, our reporting has noted the increasing utility of the Stellar network for institutional-grade financial products. For instance, we covered when Tradable to Tokenize $1 Billion in Private Credit Assets on Stellar Network, demonstrating the network's capacity for handling significant asset volumes. These developments underscore a broader trend of traditional financial giants and blockchain foundations collaborating to create more accessible, interoperable payment rails.

What this means

This integration represents a significant step toward the practical utility of blockchain in the gig economy and global payroll sectors. By providing a physical cash exit for stablecoin earnings, the partnership addresses the primary hurdle for crypto-based compensation: real-world spendability. It places traditional payroll providers under pressure to match the speed and flexibility of "streaming" payments. Furthermore, the ability to bypass traditional banking infrastructure in 170 countries moves the needle on financial inclusion, though it raises questions about how different jurisdictions will regulate such high-volume, decentralized-to-fiat flows. The industry will likely watch if this model can maintain compliance while scaling across diverse regulatory landscapes.