acwires today unveils its fully licensed cryptocurrency PayFi platform, bringing institutional-grade compliance and security to crypto transactions with a strategic focus on Asian markets and Layer 1 blockchain ecosystems. The company is also pleased to announce its strategic partnership with Changelly, established in Q4 2024, further expanding its reach and liquidity options.
Having secured comprehensive regulatory approvals across Hong Kong, Canada, and the EU, acwires emerges as one of the few fully compliant solutions in an industry often challenged by regulatory uncertainty, providing users with a secure and trusted gateway to digital assets.
"We're bringing institutional-grade compliance, security, and user experience to crypto transactions without sacrificing the speed and accessibility that users expect," said Sean Hung, Chief Executive Officer at acwires. "Our global regulatory framework ensures businesses and individuals can move seamlessly between traditional finance and digital assets with complete confidence."
The acwires advantage: Transforming crypto access
The platform addresses critical pain points in the crypto industry through several innovative features:
- Instant KYC: Complete verification in seconds rather than days, eliminating the lengthy onboarding processes common with other providers
- Multi-currency support: Transact in your local currency and local payment methods with competitive rates with our established banking partnerships across major financial markets
- Extensive asset coverage: Unlike competitors limited to the top 20-30 cryptocurrencies, acwires provides access to virtually any asset listed on Solana and EVM-compatible blockchains through direct DeFi liquidity pool connectivity
- Deep liquidity access: Execute transactions at optimal prices without slippage through advanced liquidity pools
- Secure self-custody: Maintain full control of your assets with direct wallet deposits, eliminating counterparty risk
- On-chain transparency: All transactions are conducted on-chain for complete traceability and settlement certainty
Strategic market focus
acwires has strategically positioned itself at the intersection of two high-growth segments of the crypto ecosystem:
The platform specifically addresses the unique needs of Asian markets by integrating local payment methods and navigating complex regulatory environments, enabling seamless crypto access in one of the world's fastest-growing regions for digital asset adoption.
Simultaneously, acwires provides essential infrastructure for emerging blockchain ecosystems, supporting developers, applications, and users with reliable fiat on/off ramp solutions crucial for mainstream adoption.
"We're building the essential bridge between traditional finance and the next generation of blockchain ecosystems," noted Patrick Mitchell, Chief Commercial Officer. "By solving the on/off ramp challenge for both users and blockchain projects, we're removing a critical barrier to widespread crypto adoption."
Backed by strategic investment
acwires recently secured US$ 2 million in strategic funding from Protagonist, Baboon VC, SH Capital and Sinostar Capital to accelerate its growth trajectory. This investment is fueling technology enhancements, regulatory expansion, and market penetration initiatives focused on key regions in Asia and beyond.
The company is actively establishing strategic partnerships with exchanges, wallet providers, DeFi protocols, and Layer 1 blockchain projects to extend its reach and utility within the broader crypto ecosystem.
Leadership with proven expertise
acwires brings together a leadership team with extensive experience spanning traditional finance, blockchain technology, and global regulatory compliance:
- Sean Hung — Chief Executive Officer: With over 10 years in finance, investments and technology, Sean previously founded Chiron Group, a Web3 venture capital firm, served as Director at NASDAQ-listed Diginex, and was Vice President at Cantor Fitzgerald specializing in APAC structured finance.
- Praful Morar — Non-Executive Chairman: Drawing on 35+ years in global transactional banking and e-commerce payments, Praful brings exceptional expertise in international payment systems. He previously led Nuvei Digital Payments' global expansion across Europe, North America, MENA, and Latin America, establishing localized operations and direct relationships with major financial institutions.
- Ben McDonnell — Chief Compliance Officer: A seasoned compliance expert with over a decade of experience in financial crime risk management across traditional finance and Web3. Previously Compliance Lead at Bullish Capital and team leader for enhanced due diligence at HSBC HK, Ben now spearheads acwires' compliance with the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework while guiding multi-jurisdictional licensing efforts to ensure the highest legal and security standards globally.
- Patrick Mitchell — Chief Commercial Officer: A veteran finance and fintech executive with extensive experience across institutional sales, trading, and digital asset integration. Patrick has held senior roles at Cantor Fitzgerald, J.P. Morgan, Merrill Lynch, and Maybank Kim Eng. At acwires, he drives commercial strategy and expansion of partnerships and Web3 integrations to deliver seamless, compliant fiat-to-crypto payment solutions globally.
For businesses seeking to integrate compliant crypto on/off ramp solutions or to explore strategic partnerships, visit https://acwires.com or follow us on X.