URBNED was accelerated by AceON in 2025.
Speed, trust, and compliance rarely move at the same pace in fintech. Yet for startups operating across borders, solving all three at once is essential. URBNED is one of those startups taking the challenge head-on, having processed over $500K in transfers and grown to more than 600 returning customers to date. The promise is bold and immediately clear: send money fast, affordably, and with much lower fees.
From UK to the USA: Simplifying global money transfers
URBNED is a digital crypto-friendly platform built for immigrants and expats - people who live between countries, currencies, and financial systems. Did you know that in 2024, India alone received $125B in remittances, yet traditional channels charge 6-7% fees and take days to settle? URBNED simplifies such cross-border money transfers by leveraging blockchain technology and stablecoins to settle transfers quickly and cheaply.
Originally launched in London, URBNED took a major leap at the beginning of 2026 by relocating its operations to the United States, incorporating in Delaware to support growth in a large and highly regulated market. The US marks the first step in a broader expansion plan, with Europe and India on the roadmap next.
Targeting the tens-of-billions remittance market
Variindar Vaissh, a blockchain expert and developer with 7+ years of experience, is the CEO of URBNED. He co-founded the company with Deepak Vaissh, who serves as CFO. Variindar highlights the URBNED´s opportunity in the remittance market driven by rising cross-border migration, fintech adoption, and demand for faster, cheaper money movement. While estimates vary, industry analysts project the digital remittance market will grow to tens of billions of dollars by the early 2030s, reflecting strong long-term demand for innovative transfer solutions.
Biggest challenge is tackling compliance
We asked Variindar, CEO of URBNED, what were the biggest hurdles as a fintech startup. He told us it was navigating the complex regulatory and compliance landscape, especially while handling cross-border payments for immigrants and expats. According to Variindar, the key to overcoming this challenge was building strong strategic partnerships rather than trying to manage everything in-house.
URBNED teamed up with an EMI (Electronic Money Institution) provider and an MSB (Money Services Business) partner, which supply regulated banking infrastructure, including bank accounts, Visa and Mastercard issuance, and fiat on/off-ramp services that can be funded via stablecoins like USDT and USDC.
These partners handle the backend operations, safeguard customer funds, and ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements. This approach allows URBNED to focus on delivering a seamless user experience while staying fully compliant.
Not a single dollar on paid ads
With over 600+ active customers, URBNED’s growth strategy is a lesson in the power of organic, community-driven marketing. CEO Variindar Vaissh explains that the startup didn’t spend a single dollar on paid ads. Instead, the team focused on direct engagement:
👉 connecting personally with users on peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms and Telegram groups.
👉 Early traction came from communities on Binance P2P, Paxful, and LocalBitcoins, where people already buy and sell crypto through trusted networks. URBNED introduced its MVP beta, allowing users to buy USDT directly with bank accounts, and word-of-mouth quickly began spreading.
👉 From there, URBNED expanded into Web3 communities on Twitter, building connections with various groups and inviting influencers to participate.
👉 The company also generated interest through future marketing pools and token rewards, attracting crypto-native users and further strengthening trust.
By combining outreach, personal relationship-building, and community momentum, URBNED scaled its user base while keeping engagement authentic.
The reasons URBNED is taking its fintech ambitions to the USA
The UK has long been a hub for fintech innovation, and URBNED´s CEO acknowledges its advantages: a mature financial ecosystem, access to top talent, and supportive regulatory frameworks like the FCA sandbox. For early-stage startups, the UK provides valuable networks to validate products and build credibility.
However, when it comes to scaling globally, URBNED sees the United States as the optimal environment. With a fast-moving investment culture, abundant capital, and a higher appetite for risk, the USA encourages bold ideas in fintech and Web3. Varindar highlights several factors that make the USA particularly attractive:
- Capital moves faster: Investors are quick to make decisions and support early-stage startups.
- Competition drives innovation: The massive market incentivizes startups to scale rapidly.
- High fintech adoption: Users readily embrace new financial products, and digital finance infrastructure is advanced.
- VC-friendly structures: Delaware C-Corps facilitate venture capital funding and equity-based growth.
This strategic reasoning is why URBNED launched its US entity in Delaware in January 2026. The move will enable the startup to expand more quickly, access local investors, and pursue a mix of venture capital and crowdfunding opportunities. By combining its UK roots with a US growth strategy, URBNED aims to build a global fintech platform that scales across continents.
