KAST Nominated for Best Digital Assets Neobank and Fintech at BeInCrypto Awards

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BeInCrypto 100 Institutional Awards Nomination: KAST for Best Digital Assets Neobank and Best Digital Assets Fintech

From my analysis, stablecoins are evolving beyond just being used for crypto trading. I’m seeing them increasingly function as fundamental financial tools – helping people earn income, make everyday purchases, and send money internationally. KAST seems to be recognizing this trend and is building its platform specifically to support this growing use case.

I’m pleased to share that our firm has been nominated for two awards at the BeInCrypto Institutional 100 Awards 2026: Best Digital Assets Neobank and Best Digital Assets Fintech. It’s a great recognition of our work in the digital asset space.

Neobank Metric Last Verified Data
Users 1M+
Annualized transaction volume About $5B
Active footprint 170+ countries
Card acceptance 150M+ merchants
Yield product KAST Earn with Gauntlet and USD Prime Vault

This nomination highlights KAST’s long-standing commitment to creating a financial platform for both consumers and businesses, built using stablecoin technology.

We help people around the world – in over 170 countries – manage their money all in one place. Our app lets you send and receive international payments instantly using systems like Fedwire and SWIFT, spend with a card at over 150 million stores, hold US dollars, and even earn rewards – all from one convenient app.

In March 2026, KAST secured $80 million in Series A funding. The investment was jointly led by QED Investors and Left Lane Capital, with additional support from Peak XV Partners, HSG, and DST Global Partners. At the time, KAST announced it had surpassed 1 million users and was processing around $5 billion in transactions annually.

Fintech Metric Last Verified Data
Series A funding $80M announced in March 2026
Core architecture Stablecoin-native financial app
Business product KAST Business waitlist/live access waves
Custody and security Fireblocks, BitGo, and enterprise security partners
Product surface USD accounts, cards, payouts, yield, business accounts

Built Around Stablecoins From Day One

KAST’s nomination for Best Digital Assets Neobank centers on its stablecoin-native account model.

As an analyst, I’ve noticed a key difference between KAST and most other neobanks. While most started as traditional banks and *then* added crypto capabilities, KAST built its entire foundation *around* stablecoins. Everything – from your account balance and international transfers to spending on your card and earning yield – is powered by digital dollars. It’s a fundamentally different approach.

In a nomination interview with BeInCrypto, Founder and CEO Raagulan Pathy described the difference.

Pathy explained that while early neobanks focused on user-friendly design, they still relied on traditional banking infrastructure. Our approach, built on stablecoins, allows us to quickly expand into over 150 countries, and that’s been our priority since the beginning.

KAST’s design allows it to operate worldwide. Users can easily hold US dollars, make purchases with Visa cards, send money internationally, and earn returns on stablecoins – all without needing a traditional bank account in their home country.

KAST prioritizes top-tier security for its users. They work with leading security firms like Fireblocks and BitGo to protect assets, and all financial services are handled by officially licensed and regulated companies.

Turning Stablecoin Rails Into Fintech Infrastructure

The second nomination, Best Digital Assets Fintech, reflects KAST’s wider product buildout.

KAST Earn helps users earn rewards on their USD by using it in different investment options, called vaults. The Gauntlet Alpha Vault invests funds in strategies managed by Gauntlet, a DeFi platform. The USD Prime Vault uses USDKY, a stablecoin that’s backed by short-term US Treasury bills, to provide a secure and reliable return.

KAST allows users to take out their funds at any time without restrictions, and any gains they’ve earned will be visible in their account balance.

Pathy framed trust as central to the business model.

At its core, financial services relies on trust. Customers are more likely to choose a company they trust, and that trust isn’t always about having the lowest prices. It’s more about being seen as safe and reliable.

KAST is expanding its services to include business finance solutions. KAST Business offers a single platform for global teams and companies to manage payouts, payroll, virtual cards, and international spending. Currently, access is being granted in stages, and applications are being reviewed individually.

This move allows KAST to offer more than just a standard credit card. It opens doors for the company to provide services like paying employees and contractors with stablecoins, managing business expenses, and integrating financial tools into other platforms.

The BeInCrypto Institutional 100 Awards celebrate companies creating the foundations for the future of digital finance. KAST has been nominated because it’s making stablecoins easier for people to use like traditional banking, and providing essential financial tools for businesses worldwide.

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2026-05-16 01:33