Rafael Meruane seeks joint ventures with banks for digital assets

Rafael Meruane, co-founder and CEO of Notbank by CryptoMarket, expressed interest in forming joint ventures with regulated banks to scale digital asset services. The Chile-originated firm, now registered in Delaware, aims for partnerships to offer products like credit. It recently partnered with a Puerto Rico bank for stablecoin-linked accounts.

In a MergerMarket conversation, Rafael Meruane, CEO of Notbank by CryptoMarket, highlighted interest in strategic alliances with regulated financial institutions. "An alliance of this type would allow expansion into products like credit, which require hard-to-obtain licenses independently," he said. Acquisitions, by contrast, could disrupt internal dynamics and long-term execution, he added.

Founded in Chile in 2016 and restructured under a Delaware holding to attract investors, Notbank has an estimated valuation between USD 30 million and USD 60 million. The firm manages about USD 80 million in assets and serves around 700,000 customers in five countries: Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and Colombia. It provides real-time stablecoin-to-local currency conversion and crypto-as-a-service for fintechs via API.

It recently partnered with a regulated bank in Puerto Rico, enabling clients to open U.S. accounts natively linked to stablecoins, supporting SWIFT, ACH, and PIX transfers. The company plans expansion to at least two more countries this year and is raising USD 3 million to USD 6 million for its B2B business.

Notbank will sponsor Proof of Talk in Paris in June and seeks financial advisors familiar with that ecosystem. Shareholders include co-founder Martín Jofré, ConsenSys with 10% stake, and a stock options program for key employees.

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David Vélez Osorno receives Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 award on stage, Nubank digital banking expansion visuals in background.
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David Vélez Osorno named entrepreneur of the year 2025

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David Vélez Osorno, CEO of Nu Holdings LTD and founder of Nubank, has been named Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 by La República, for revolutionizing digital banking in Latin America and recent expansion into the United States. The award highlights Nubank's 2025 milestones, including key partnerships and new financial products. Other fintech leaders were also nominated for their innovations in Colombia.

Recent cryptocurrency news from Latin America highlights diverse approaches, with Argentina facing a fintech setback, Brazil considering a Bitcoin reserve, and El Salvador planning tokenized investments for SMEs. These moves reflect ongoing experimentation in regional crypto policy and finance. Lawmakers in Argentina revoked a proposal for digital wallet salary deposits, while Brazil eyes tax exemptions and reserves.

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Japanese financial conglomerate SBI Holdings has submitted a letter of intent to acquire shares in cryptocurrency exchange Bitbank, aiming to make it a consolidated subsidiary. The move supports SBI's expansion in digital assets amid Japan's planned regulatory changes for cryptocurrencies. The deal is subject to due diligence, negotiations, and approvals.

Morgan Stanley has filed for a national trust bank charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to provide cryptocurrency custody services to institutional clients. The application, submitted on February 18, aims to position the Wall Street giant as a direct competitor to crypto-native custodians. This move reflects a broader trend of traditional banks expanding into digital assets amid a more favorable regulatory environment.

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Brazil's central bank has announced new regulations requiring crypto exchanges to submit daily reports on their asset holdings and adopt bank-level security standards. The measures aim to enhance investor protection and curb financial crimes. Many rules will take effect in 2027.

The National Treasury has published the draft Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Regulations 2026 to oversee Kenya's crypto businesses. The measures seek to protect consumers and combat financial crimes such as money laundering. Public consultations are underway through April.

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Germany-based AllUnity has launched its MiCA-compliant euro stablecoin EURAU on the Solana blockchain. The expansion targets faster and cheaper euro transfers for businesses and developers. This move coincides with rapid growth in the euro stablecoin market.

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