Hyundai moves $20,000 in USDT from US to Mexico on Avalanche in 7 minutes

Pilot transaction and technology partners

This pilot initiative, led by Hyundai Card, sought to evaluate whether stablecoin-based payments on blockchain networks could enable faster settlements compared to traditional bank transfers. The transaction settled in approximately seven minutes, a notable improvement over the three to four hours typically required for conventional interbank transfers.

To carry out the pilot, Hyundai Card collaborated with Tether, which provided the USDT stablecoin; Ava Labs, the developer of the Avalanche blockchain; and payments solution provider Axiym. These enterprises facilitated a real-world test of blockchain-based corporate payments, targeting internal treasury transfers between company subsidiaries rather than consumer transactions.

Mini dictionary: Avalanche, a layer-1 blockchain network developed by Ava Labs, is known for enabling high-throughput, low-latency decentralized applications and supports both custom blockchains and digital asset transfers.

By using the Avalanche network and USDT, Hyundai completed an intercompany payment in just seven minutes, while a typical bank transfer would have required three to four hours and involved multiple intermediaries.

Executives stated the pilot focused exclusively on enhancing the efficiency and speed of treasury management. Hyundai emphasized that this was not intended as a technology demonstration but as an operational trial to evaluate blockchain for corporate finance.

International expansion plans

Following the US-Mexico transaction, Hyundai plans to expand the program to additional countries and include more currencies. A new European pilot, set for next month, will involve Visa and stablecoin issuer Circle, indicating the company’s focus on integrating blockchain into its global payments network.

Hyundai’s trial represents the first time a major South Korean enterprise has completed an internal cross-border payment using blockchain technology. The transfer was processed and recorded transparently on the Avalanche network, highlighting the potential for reduced settlement times and reliance on financial intermediaries.

Participants in the pilot project noted stablecoins’ capacity to enable fast transactions outside regular banking hours, underscoring their benefits for corporate treasury functionality.

With this trial, Hyundai signaled a broader ambition to evaluate blockchain-driven payment solutions for internal use, pending operational review and regulatory compliance.

Next steps and future outlook

Hyundai intends to assess the outcomes of the recent pilot before scaling the solution in other jurisdictions. Future deployment will depend on operational results and ongoing compliance evaluations.

As the upcoming Europe-based pilot with Circle and Visa approaches, Hyundai continues to explore the potential for stablecoins and blockchain infrastructure to streamline payment operations within its global corporate structure.