Vantage Bank is building the next generation of cross-border payments

The GENIUS Act is driving transformative changes in how businesses use blockchain for smart contracts and payments. At Vantage Bank, we’re preparing to help your business harness the power of this financial revolution.

A new era for U.S. dollar payments

In early 2025, Vantage Bank, in partnership with Custodia Bank and with regulatory support, achieved a groundbreaking milestone: the first-ever tokenization of a bank’s U.S. dollar demand deposits on a permissionless blockchain.

By issuing, transferring, and redeeming Avit™ stablecoins for a customer, we laid the foundation for a new U.S. dollar payment rail within the regulated banking system.

This innovation marked the first step in enabling businesses to access real-time, global, programmable payments.

Tokenized dollars demonstrated their ability to work safely and efficiently within the U.S. banking ecosystem.

The technology promises to lower costs, accelerate settlement times, and offer programmability that traditional payment systems cannot match — all while ensuring compliance, security, and customer protection.

Full regulatory approval is expected in 2026.

Collaboration that moves business forward

To showcase the potential of tokenized payments, logistics company DX Xpress partnered with Vantage Bank and Custodia Bank to address a common challenge: cross-border payments.

By leveraging programmable, tokenized U.S. dollars, DX Xpress eliminated delays and high costs associated with traditional wire transfers. Payments between Mexico and the U.S. were completed in seconds for just pennies, revolutionizing supply chains and driver pay.

Antonio Bazán, President and CEO of DX Xpress, highlighted the benefits.

“Integrated, programmable U.S. dollar payments speed up cash conversion cycles, allowing payments to be initiated via smart contracts at delivery and paying drivers within the hour,” Bazán said.

This level of automation frees up capital, strengthens logistics, and motivates teams.

“At Vantage, we work closely with our customers to plan for their technology-driven banking needs,” Jeff Sinnott, president and CEO of Vantage Bank, said. “For DX Xpress, that means helping them recruit the best drivers by offering faster, easier methods of paying drivers based on location-tracking technology.

We look forward to deepening our relationships with business and foreign exchange customers by providing faster, cheaper, and programmable payments.”

Caitlin Long, CEO of Custodia Bank, said the transactions mark an early example of blockchain-based payments moving across borders through regulated banking channels.

“Our initial Avit launch was domestic only, but these cross-border transactions added legal rights and consumer protections not available with stablecoins issued by non-banks,” Long said. “This shows how businesses can leverage the best of blockchain and traditional banking in a regulated, audit-ready environment.”

Geolocation-triggered payments: The next leap

Building on these milestones, Vantage Bank and Custodia Bank developed geolocation-triggered payments, allowing businesses to automate payments based on real-world events.

Professors from the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University and the University of Wyoming demonstrated this innovation by driving to their state capitols, where their arrival triggered instant payment using Avits.

This journey honored the legislative support for blockchain innovation in Texas and Wyoming, while showcasing how programmable money can work in practical, real-world scenarios.

“Customers in logistics and construction are asking for geolocation-triggered payment functionality that leverages programmable money to enforce payment conditions automatically. So, we built it for them,” Sinnott explained. “With tokenized deposits, businesses can ensure transactions are executed as intended, improving efficiency and reliability. Multiple customers in these industries are already expressing interest, and we are planning to make these services broadly available.”

A strong compliance foundation

Every step of this journey is built on a foundation of compliance.

Vantage Bank adheres to all applicable U.S. banking regulations, including the Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Money Laundering, and OFAC requirements.

By working closely with regulatory partners and designing robust policies for documentation, monitoring, and auditability, we’ve demonstrated that U.S. banks can lead in digital asset innovation while prioritizing customer safety and trust.

What it means for your business

These advancements bring more than just technical improvements — they deliver real value for businesses.

With tokenized U.S. dollars and programmable payments, companies can:

• Move funds in seconds, not days
• Automate payments upon task completion
• Improve cash flow and efficiency across borders
• Rely on fully compliant, auditable financial tools

By removing the friction from payments, businesses of all sizes will be able to seize new opportunities, improve capital utilization, and compete in a global market with greater confidence.

At Vantage Bank, we’re committed to helping your business thrive in this new era of finance.

By combining innovative technology with trusted relationships, we’re your ideal financial ally.

Let’s explore the possibilities together and unlock the potential of these groundbreaking advancements.

Member FDIC
Avit^TM is a trademark of Custodia Bank, Inc.  Stablecoins are not FDIC insured and involve risks, including potential loss of value, operational risks, and evolving regulatory requirements. Only traditional bank deposits and tokenized deposits qualify for FDIC Insurance.