Hong Kong-based fintech Qupital has launched what it calls the world’s first AI-driven on-chain e-commerce lending protocol, a system that combines real-time artificial intelligence credit monitoring with Ethereum smart contracts and USDC settlement to deliver instant, round-the-clock liquidity to cross-border e-commerce merchants. The announcement, made via Media OutReach Newswire, positions the company at the intersection of decentralized finance and real-world assets ahead of the Token 2049 conference.
The protocol addresses a persistent pain point in global trade: small and medium-sized enterprises often face delays and manual oversight when seeking financing from traditional banks. By deploying USDC via smart contracts, Qupital eliminates legacy banking delays and provides 24/7 capital access synchronized with global e-commerce velocity. The system continuously adjusts credit exposure based on real-time sales-to-loan performance. When store metrics deviate from set parameters, smart contracts automatically invoke payment gateway APIs to intercept platform cashflows, capturing store earnings to satisfy debt obligations and revenue targets.
Key innovations include AI-guarded risk control, which integrates Qupital’s proprietary AI engine with automated payment gateway APIs to monitor sales performance and capture settlement cashflows directly, drastically reducing credit risk. The protocol also replaces manual back-office drawdown verification and settlement calls with smart contracts, accelerating capital turnover and reducing operational overhead. Every active loan is tokenized on-chain to Qupital’s Treasury Vault, providing institutional lenders with 1:1 real-time balance sheet verification.
The move comes as B2B cross-border stablecoin settlements are projected to reach $5 trillion by 2035, with over 54% of cross-border enterprises preparing to adopt stablecoin payment infrastructure. Qupital’s protocol directly addresses this surge in institutional and merchant demand.
“Agentic commerce and instant global settlement require financing infrastructure that operates around the clock,” said Winston Wong, Co-Founder & CEO of Qupital. “While traditional banking channels remain a core pillar of our trade finance operations, utilizing blockchain rails allows us to streamline distribution and accelerate settlement times. Integrating our proprietary AI risk engine directly into on-chain frameworks eliminates operational friction, minimizes non-performing loans, and expands our global footprint.”
Qupital has processed over US$9.5 billion in cumulative trade financing while maintaining industry-leading credit performance. The company already has an active pipeline of US$100 million in financing to be fulfilled on-chain. Building on its recently announced Series C financing, Qupital continues to execute on its long-term growth roadmap. The launch further diversifies Qupital’s capital execution options and accelerates its entry into new global markets. By bringing real-world quality trade assets on-chain, Qupital directly addresses the multi-trillion-dollar SME financing gap, delivering accessible, frictionless capital to digital enterprises underserved by traditional banks and financial institutions worldwide.
For more information, visit https://www.qupital.com.
