Stellar, known for its efficient and low-cost blockchain transactions, is making strides with new partnerships and integrations. Recently, on April 17, 2025, AEON Group, a leading retail organization in South Asia, announced its collaboration with the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) to deploy a blockchain-based payment framework in the region.

This alliance aims to enable XLM and USDC payments in AEON outlets, starting with a pilot project in Malaysia set to launch in late 2025. The initial focus is on facilitating transactions using USDC, a stablecoin produced by Circle, enhancing ways for the unbanked population to engage with blockchain technologies.

The goal is to offer instant, affordable transactions, free from traditional banking obstacles, fostering rapid adoption among users.

🤝 #AEON partners with @StellarOrg and @BuildOnStellar to accelerate global #cryptopayments! Now supporting $XLM & #Stellar-USDC across over 10,000 brands and 20 million QR-enabled outlets in Southeast Asia, with expansion plans to Africa and Latin America. Crypto payments have now become simpler, faster, and globally accessible. 🌐 … pic.twitter.com/2lzV7LiVK2 (Translation: AEON partners with Stellar to accelerate global cryptocurrency payments!)

Through this collaboration, both companies intend to demonstrate how blockchain can rejuvenate outdated payment systems, particularly in high-volume retail sectors. Stellar will provide the underlying technology for settlement and cross-border remittances.

Additionally, Stellar has secured significant partnerships with key players in both DeFi and traditional finance sectors, with companies such as Mastercard, Stripe, and Paxos on board.

Key Insights

• Stellar is collaborating with AEON to facilitate XLM and USDC payments in Southeast Asia.
• A projection of $3 billion in tokenized real-world assets on the Stellar blockchain by 2025 signifies growing institutional interest.
• SDF’s emphasis is on global payments, asset tokenization, and developing a robust DeFi ecosystem.