Nilos

Nilos, founded in 2021 by Eytan Messika and Raphael Fettaya, is a financial technology company addressing the complexities of B2B cross-border payments, particularly in emerging markets. Eytan Messika's background in mathematics, venture capital, and crypto investing, combined with his experience running a tech-focused newsletter, shaped the company's direction. A pivotal moment came during Messika's travels in Argentina, which highlighted the practical application of stablecoins in economies with challenging traditional banking systems, leading to a strategic pivot for the company. Initially focused on Web3 companies, Nilos expanded its mission to bridge traditional and digital currency ecosystems for a broader business clientele.

The company operates as a global B2B payment platform that unifies fiat and cryptocurrency treasury management. It serves international importers/exporters, global corporations with subsidiaries in emerging markets, and fintechs looking to build stablecoin products. Nilos's core offering is a unified platform where businesses can connect bank accounts, crypto wallets, and payment service providers (PSPs) into a single interface. This allows for streamlined tracking of income, reconciliation of money flows, and execution of payments across both fiat and digital currencies. Revenue is generated by providing a comprehensive stack for cross-border money movements, including multi-currency accounts, foreign exchange services at wholesale rates, and payout capabilities to over 120 countries using local payment rails like bank transfers and mobile money.

Key features of the Nilos platform include the ability to issue virtual EU IBANs, automate payment workflows, and provide detailed financial reports for accounting. A significant component of their service is the "stablecoin sandwich model," which uses stablecoins to facilitate rapid and low-cost conversions between major currencies (like USD and EUR) and local currencies without the need for pre-funded correspondent bank accounts. The platform also integrates robust compliance and security measures, such as Anti-Money Laundering (AML) monitoring for incoming transactions, Know Your Business (KYB) onboarding, and custody services for digital assets. In April 2022, Nilos secured $5.2 million in a seed funding round co-led by Viola Ventures and Fabric Ventures, with participation from notable angel investors, to fuel customer acquisition and product development.

Keywords: B2B payments, cross-border payments, emerging markets, fintech, treasury management, stablecoin payments, cryptocurrency, fiat gateway, payment infrastructure, liquidity network, global payments, multi-currency account, foreign exchange, payment reconciliation, AML compliance, digital assets, Web3 finance, international trade payments, corporate finance solutions, payment rails