The next level for wallets: going from crypto to coffee

For a long time, the crypto world has been talking to itself. We've built incredible tech, from DeFi to NFTs, but for most people, the whole thing feels like a members-only club. You can buy, sell, and trade digital assets, but can you use them to pay for a cup of coffee or a taxi ride? In most of the world, the answer is still a resounding "nope".

That's a massive missed opportunity.

In places like Southeast Asia, things are different. People aren't just buying and investing in crypto; they’re actually using it to earn and spend. Thanks to huge flows of crypto from remittances and cross-border freelancing, stablecoins have become a medium of exchange. But there's a huge speed bump: getting that crypto into the real world. Existing off-ramps are clunky, often requiring users to go through traditional banks that many don't even use. This often leaves people with no choice but to rely on informal, gray-market brokers found on platforms like Facebook.

For crypto wallets and neobanks, solving this problem isn't just about adding a cool new feature. It's about unlocking a whole new level of utility and finally bridging the gap between digital assets and daily life. This is the moment to move from a "store of value" to a true "medium of exchange" for millions of users.

The power of integration: You don't have to build it all

Trying to build a global payments network from scratch is a nightmare. Thankfully, you don't have to. The key to winning this market is smart integration. In Southeast Asia, QR code payments are the name of the game, used by nearly 90% of the population and accepted by over 80% of merchants. This is a vastly better coverage than credit cards.

This is where a platform like Ripe comes in. We’re the middleware that connects crypto to these existing, deeply entrenched payment rails. We make it simple for you to offer real-world payment solutions without getting bogged down in the complexities of local fiat disbursement and regulatory compliance.

By integrating our platform, you can offer your users two game-changing features:

1. The "scan and pay" experience: Imagine your user base in Vietnam, Indonesia, or the Philippines. They’ve just been paid in USDC for a freelance gig. Instead of a complicated off-ramp process, they can simply open your app, scan a merchant’s QR code—like a QRPh or VietQR—and pay directly with the stablecoins in their wallet. The magic? The merchant receives the payment in local fiat currency, completely unaware that a crypto transaction just happened on the backend. This is the kind of seamless experience that turns a crypto wallet into a daily habit.

2. The direct-to-e-wallet off-ramp: For many people, their e-wallet is their financial hub. It's where they store their cash, pay their bills, and handle their finances. Instead of forcing them to use traditional banks, you can give them a direct, one-click bridge from their crypto holdings to their local e-wallet (think GCash or GrabPay). This is a "critical convenience" for mass-market adoption and provides a secure, compliant alternative to informal brokers.

The bottom line: Stickiness and revenue

Let's talk business. This isn't just about a better user experience; it’s about a smarter business model. By embedding real-world payments, you're creating a stickier product. When users can use their crypto for everything from their morning coffee to their rent, they have a reason to keep coming back to your platform.

Furthermore, integrating a solution like Ripe can open up new revenue streams. The fees on these transactions can be competitive with, or even lower than, traditional options, and can also be supplemented by revenue-share agreements with stablecoin issuers.

The market is huge. With a QR payment volume of over $5 trillion today and explosive growth in Southeast Asia, the opportunity is right now. The wallets and neobanks that move first to nail this use case will be the ones that win the next wave of crypto adoption.