Zar, a new startup created by former SadaPay CEO Brandon Timinsky, has successfully secured $7 million in funding to establish a worldwide network enabling cash-to-stablecoin exchanges at neighborhood stores globally.
This funding round attracted significant investors, including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Dragonfly Capital, VanEck Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, and some of the co-founders of the Solana blockchain.
Fortune reports that the company’s valuation has not been made public.
Timinsky Advocates for Stablecoin Adoption
Timinsky conveyed to Fortune that his goal is to enhance stablecoin accessibility for individuals in cash-dominant economies by utilizing established retail channels.
As stablecoins currently represent a $238 billion market, their growing significance for international transactions and protection against inflation has positioned Zar to convert any retail outlet into a physical crypto exchange.
To achieve this, Zar is leveraging a global network of over 28 million mobile money agents—people and businesses that currently assist in delivering more than $1.5 trillion in financial services outside conventional banking.
The platform will enable users to visit local shops, scan a QR code, and start a transaction via the Zar app.
Customers can assess vendor ratings, view exchange rates, and exchange cash for stablecoins like USDT or USDC, which will be directly sent to their digital wallets.
Store owners can profit by adding a markup to the exchange rate, while Zar collects a transaction fee that varies by region.
Although the service isn’t live yet, there is already considerable interest; nearly 100,000 users have joined Zar’s waitlist, and 7,000 vendors across 20 countries—including Pakistan, Nigeria, Argentina, and Indonesia—are interested.
Timinsky noted that the company is not focusing on the U.S. at this time, where the use of stablecoins is relatively low due to a stable currency and sophisticated banking systems.
Instead, their attention is on emerging markets, where reliable financial services are scarce, and people seek alternatives to unstable local currencies.
The newly acquired funding will help expand Zar’s team, open additional offices, and further develop their technology. The service is expected to launch by late summer.
Stablecoin Market Predicted to Reach $2 Trillion by 2030
Citigroup has projected significant growth in the stablecoin market, estimating that its total market capitalization may rise from nearly $240 billion today to over $2 trillion by 2030.
This anticipated growth is attributed to evolving regulations and heightened interest from both financial institutions and government entities.
The bank suggests that stablecoin supply might reach $1.6 trillion by the end of the decade under its base-case scenario, and a more optimistic perspective could see this number climb to $3.7 trillion.
Recent reports indicate that the number of active stablecoin wallets has surged by over 50% in the past year, demonstrating increasing adoption and engagement in the digital asset landscape.
Specifically, active stablecoin addresses grew from 19.6 million in February 2024 to 30 million in February 2025, marking a 53% increase year-over-year.
The article “Zar Secures $7M From A16z, Dragonfly to Bring Stablecoins to Local Stores” was originally published on Cryptonews.
