Zar, a fintech startup founded by former SadaPay CEO Brandon Timinsky, has secured $7 million in seed funding to launch a global stablecoin exchange network powered by local retail shops. The funding round attracted major investors including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Dragonfly Capital, VanEck Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, and the co-founders of Solana.
The company aims to make stablecoins like USDC and USDT accessible to users in cash-heavy markets, turning corner stores and mobile money agents into physical crypto exchange points.
The valuation of the company was not disclosed, according to Fortune, which first reported the funding news.
A Real-World Use Case for Stablecoins
Speaking to Fortune, Timinsky emphasized the need for stablecoin accessibility in emerging markets, where cash dominates and financial infrastructure is often unreliable.
“The goal is to let anyone walk into a store, hand over cash, and instantly receive stablecoins in their wallet,” said Timinsky.
Zar’s platform will tap into a network of over 28 million mobile money agents globally, who currently help move $1.5 trillion annually outside of traditional banking rails. With Zar, these agents—or store owners—will be able to offer cash-to-crypto services via a simple QR code interface using the Zar app.
Users can scan the code, review rates and vendor ratings, and convert fiat cash into digital dollars, all while the store owner earns a margin and Zar collects a regionalized transaction fee.
Waitlist Momentum and Global Rollout Plans
Although the platform has not yet launched, early traction is strong. Zar reports nearly 100,000 users on its waitlist and 7,000 vendors across 20 countries have already expressed interest. Target markets include Pakistan, Nigeria, Argentina, and Indonesia—all countries where inflation and limited banking access make stablecoins especially appealing.
Notably, Zar is not focused on the U.S. market at this stage. “The U.S. has mature financial infrastructure and currency stability,” Timinsky said. “We’re focused on where the need is real.”
The new capital will be used to expand the team, open regional offices, and continue product development. Zar plans to launch publicly by the end of summer 2025.
A Bet on the Future of Stablecoins
Zar’s model arrives at a time when interest in stablecoins is accelerating. Citigroup recently projected that the stablecoin market could expand from its current $240 billion to $2 trillion by 2030, driven by regulatory clarity and growing demand from institutions and governments.
In the past year alone, the number of active stablecoin wallets jumped from 19.6 million in February 2024 to 30 million in February 2025, a 53% increase year-over-year.
With that backdrop, Zar is positioning itself not just as a payment facilitator—but as an on-ramp to the future of digital cash, leveraging existing infrastructure to close the gap between traditional finance and Web3.
