International AIDS Society replaced cash stipend distribution with USDC stablecoins on Stellar for IAS 2025, using Stellar Disbursement Platform and Decaf Wallet. 427 payments to 248 recipients across 50+ countries processed instantly with 100% success rate, eliminating logistical burden and queues.
The International AIDS Society distributed scholarship stipends at IAS 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda using USDC stablecoins instead of cash. Partnering with Stellar Disbursement Platform and Decaf Wallet, the organization processed 427 payments to recipients across 50+ countries instantly, eliminating the logistical complexity and queues of manual cash distribution. Recipients received secure email links to claim their USDC, then used Decaf Wallet to withdraw cash via MoneyGram, transfer to local bank accounts, or hold funds. The system delivered 100% payment success while dramatically reducing staff overhead and improving accessibility for recipients from underbanked regions. The case study demonstrates how stablecoin infrastructure can modernize global disbursements for NGOs and international organizations, offering instant cross-border transfers without requiring bank accounts.