Coinbase and Nium Launch USDC Payment Integration Across 190 Countries
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Coinbase and global payments firm Nium have launched a stablecoin integration that enables USDC payments and fiat payouts across more than 190 countries, with Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong framing the deal as a step toward replacing slow correspondent banking with stablecoin settlement. The integration is live for Nium's banking, fintech, and enterprise clients, which include major names like Travelex, Deel, Ebury, and Bank BRI.Nium operates under more than 40 licenses globally and processes approximately $8 billion in annual payment volume, giving the integration immediate scale from day one rather than requiring a gradual rollout.Under the arrangement, Coinbase handles stablecoin liquidity, wallet services, and regulated custody, while clients can fund cross-border transfers in USDC and then settle in either USDC or local fiat currency. One of the most practically significant features is the removal of prefunded accounts in receiving currencies. Stablecoins act as just-in-time liquidity, converting to local currency only at the moment a payout settles, which eliminates the capital inefficiency of locking up funds across dozens of currency accounts in advance. The integration also covers card programs, allowing businesses holding USDC balances to deploy them through stablecoin-backed cards at hundreds of millions of merchant locations worldwide.