A podcast interview with AirTM CEO Ruben Galindo discusses the company's 11-year journey solving cross-border payment challenges using stablecoins on Stellar, from Venezuela's hyperinflation to enterprise payroll for 250,000 workers in 150 countries. AirTM excels in the 'last mile' by enabling fast, low-cost cashouts to 488 local payment methods. The conversation highlights Stellar's role, stablecoin advantages, and the need for patience in building generational fintech infrastructure.
Ruben Galindo, co-founder and CEO of AirTM, shares how the company started in 2013 to help Venezuelans escape hyperinflation by providing Bitcoin-backed dollars via peer-to-peer marketplaces. Evolving pre-stablecoin era, AirTM became a global stablecoin wallet on Stellar, processing over $1B in payments and saving companies 20-25% on cross-border payouts. Key to success is the 'last mile' conversion of USDC to local currency in six minutes across 488 methods at under 2.5% fees, serving freelancers, remittances, and enterprises like Tech Mahindra. Galindo emphasizes patience through crises like FTX and regulatory hurdles, integration with Bridge for 50% of enterprise volume, and the paradigm shift to open, portable stablecoin balances. He critiques traditional players like PayPal, advocates transformative cost reductions, and envisions direct, on-chain global payroll without middlemen. AirTM focuses on 'exotic' markets like Argentina and Angola where traditional rails fail.
