#PayoneerVoices

Our Regional SVP of GTM APAC, Nagesh Devata, on "the technologies shaping the future of cross-border payments in APAC and what businesses should be paying attention to next."

Artificial intelligence and blockchain - particularly stablecoins - have the potential to be truly transformational for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in APAC.

SMBs need to be aware of how best to manage their costs, especially as they scale internationally. Investment decision matters, and they need to be smart about where and how they deploy limited resources. AI can play a critical role even before a cross-border payment is made by helping SMBs identify the right markets to enter and the right customers to target.

Beyond market selection, AI enables smarter advertising, customer acquisition, and decision-making, helping SMBs overcome the challenges of having smaller in-house teams.

In practice, AI can empower small businesses to operate like much larger companies, but with fewer and more efficient resources - whether through automated marketing, risk assessment, forecasting, or operational optimization. This has a direct impact on how confidently SMBs approach cross-border growth.

Blockchain technology, and more specifically stablecoins, has the potential to meaningfully decrease friction within cross-border payments. Stablecoins can make international payments faster, more cost-effective, and more transparent. By integrating this technology into the way businesses work, we can continue to simplify their operations, ensuring that money “just works” for businesses operating globally.

While adoption will continue to be impacted by regulatory clarity and trust, these technologies, used thoughtfully, can significantly lower the barriers to cross-border trade for APAC SMBs on their growth journey.