TLDR:
- XDC Ventures acquires Contour Network to create a Stablecoin Lab for regulated cross-border settlements.
- The merger links XDC’s blockchain with Contour’s global banking consortium for faster trade finance operations.
- Circle’s USDC support on XDC enables real-time digital settlements for letters of credit.
- XDC Ventures aims to make tokenized trade finance compliant, scalable, and accessible for banks worldwide.
XDC Ventures, the investment arm of the XDC Network, has acquired Contour Network, a blockchain platform backed by top global banks. The deal signals a deeper fusion between traditional finance and blockchain technology.
Together, they plan to launch a Stablecoin Lab focused on regulated settlements in cross-border trade.
XDC Network Expands Into Trade Finance with Contour Acquisition
Contour, once supported by banking giants like HSBC, Citi, and Standard Chartered, built its name digitizing letters of credit. The acquisition gives XDC Network direct access to an established banking consortium already active in global trade.
By reviving Contour under its ecosystem, XDC Ventures is positioning the XDC blockchain as the preferred settlement layer for institutional-grade transactions.
The report stated that Contour’s revival would expand its geographic footprint and accelerate adoption among banks and corporates. XDC Ventures is also inviting compliance and risk management investors to strengthen the consortium. This expansion aims to keep regulatory standards high while scaling globally.
Atul Khekade, co-founder of XDC Network, said the merger creates “the most powerful institutional gateway for tokenized trade-finance and real-world settlements.” With its hybrid blockchain structure, XDC offers banks the speed of Web3 with compliance tools suited for finance-grade infrastructure.
Stablecoin Lab Targets Regulated Crypto Settlements
XDC Ventures plans to restructure Contour’s strategy by launching a Stablecoin Lab.
The lab’s mission is to explore stablecoin pilots for regulated issuance and settlement with partner banks. Using frameworks like the Genius Act, the goal is to give institutions practical experience with compliant stablecoin operations.
The team will focus on building APIs that support stablecoin-based letter-of-credit settlements. This shift could bring near real-time processing to systems that currently take several days.
Ritesh Kakkad, co-founder of XDC Ventures, said the platform aims to give banks the “settlement rails and treasury optimization tools” they need for compliant digital finance.
Integration with Circle’s USDC on the XDC Network will give Contour access to a regulated stablecoin for institutional settlements. This setup connects letter-of-credit workflows with real-time stablecoin payments, bridging on-chain and off-chain processes for global trade.
Bridging TradFi and Web3 for Global Trade
Contour’s platform has already reduced letter-of-credit processing times from over a week to just hours. Combining that speed with XDC’s EVM-compatible blockchain could make tokenized settlements faster and cheaper for institutional users.
The project’s ecosystem includes partners such as SBI Japan, Deutsche Telekom, and IMDA Singapore’s TradeTrust, which add further credibility.
Immediate plans include launching pilot programs, integrating APIs, and connecting XDC’s rails with Contour’s Corda-based workflows. XDC Ventures is also working with regulators in the US, EU, GCC, and Asia to align with compliance frameworks.
The acquisition strengthens XDC’s position in the real-world asset tokenization space and deepens its role in regulated trade finance. For the crypto sector, it marks another step toward merging blockchain innovation with global financial infrastructure.
