Fin, a startup co-founded by former Citadel engineers Ian Krotinsky and Aashiq Dheeraj, has exited stealth mode. The company secured $17 million in a seed funding round led by Pantera Capital, with participation from Sequoia and Samsung Next.
The platform aims to facilitate cross-border payments for enterprise clients, such as import-export firms. It utilizes stablecoin infrastructure to process high-value transfers, ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, as an alternative to traditional bank wires.
Fin allows users to transfer funds to other platform users, bank accounts, or cryptocurrency wallets. The company intends to generate revenue through transaction fees and interest earned on its stablecoin reserves.
The startup plans to launch its first pilot program in January 2026. This test will evaluate the platform's ability to handle complex requirements, including sanctions screening, anti-money laundering compliance, and large-scale currency conversion.
The company operates within the regulatory framework established by the US GENIUS Act, signed in July 2025. Fin positions itself as a competitor to traditional correspondent banking networks like JPMorgan and Barclays.
