BVNK Achieves Direct SEPA Access: Transforming Euro Payments for Stablecoin and Fiat Transactions

Introduction

BVNK, a global provider of stablecoin payment infrastructure, has secured direct access to the EU’s Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) scheme via the Bank of Lithuania’s CENTROlink system, significantly enhancing its capabilities in the European payments ecosystem.

This development enables BVNK to offer 24/7 instant euro payments with rapid settlement times, establishes it as one of the few non-traditional payment platforms with direct connectivity to core euro-denominated payment rails, and marks a major step toward closing the gap between traditional banking networks and modern digital-asset-enabled services.

What Direct SEPA Access Means

Historically, access to SEPA — the Europe-wide payments system that harmonises euro payments across participating countries — has been available primarily to banks and traditionally licensed payment institutions. With direct SEPA access, BVNK can now connect straight to the SEPA scheme without relying on intermediary providers, giving it greater control over settlement speeds, reliability, and resiliency.

Key Benefits of Direct SEPA Access

The direct connection enables BVNK to:

• Offer instant euro payments 24/7, with transactions settling in under ten seconds and most completing in less than five seconds.
• Eliminate intermediaries in the payment chain, reducing latency and potential points of failure.
• Operate a unified platform that lets customers move seamlessly between traditional payment rails and blockchain-based settlement in a single interface.
• Provide faster, more reliable liquidity management for enterprises that transact across borders or integrate stablecoins into their cash flows.

This positions BVNK not just as a facilitator of stablecoin payments, but as a hybrid payments infrastructure provider that bridges real-world fiat networks and digital-native value rails.

Why It’s a Big Deal for Fintechs and Payments

SEPA is central to euro-denominated payments across more than 30 European countries. Traditionally, fintechs and non-bank providers have had to route euro payments through partner banks or payment processors, adding cost, complexity, and latency. With direct access:

• Faster settlement becomes native rather than “enhanced.”
• Cost inefficiencies tied to third-party intermediaries are minimised.
• Operational control over liquidity, routing, and risk is greatly improved.

BVNK’s direct connection also boosts its competitive edge against both legacy banks and third-party processors in delivering fast, scalable payment solutions for businesses that operate internationally.

How BVNK Achieved This Access

BVNK connected to SEPA through the Bank of Lithuania’s CENTROlink system — a hub that enables institutions to participate more easily in European payment infrastructures like SEPA, including SEPA Instant and SEPA Credit Transfer schemes.

This connection successfully completed a pilot phase, and BVNK reports that the integration is fully tested and now rolling out to its EU and global customer base, with support for the UK and U.S. expected to follow.

According to BVNK co-founder Chris Harmse, direct SEPA access is a key enabler for building a “modern payments stack” that moves funds at internet-speed, removing friction and operational complexity that have historically bogged down cross-border and euro-denominated transfers.

A Modern Payments Stack Bridging Fiat and Digital Assets

BVNK’s platform is known for its integration of traditional payment rails (like SEPA and SWIFT) and stablecoin/crypto settlement, allowing users to switch between fiat and digital-asset based value flows. This makes its technology particularly suitable for:

• Fintechs that want to offer European users instant euro payouts without onboarding separate bank partners.
• Platforms integrating stablecoin settlements with fiat payment rails.
• Global businesses managing multilateral payables and receivables in EUR and other currencies.

Direct SEPA access enhances this hybrid capability by aligning settlement speeds between traditional and digital rails, which is valuable for corporate treasuries, marketplaces, payroll platforms, and cross-border payment services.

Industry Context: SEPA and Fintech Access Trends

Over the past couple of years, the payments industry has seen an uptick in non-bank entities gaining more direct access to core payment systems — a trend that reflects broader regulatory support for competition and innovation. For example:

• xpate in Latvia became the first non-bank to secure direct SEPA access via Latvijas Banka’s system, breaking a historical bank monopoly on such access.
• Papaya Ltd. became one of Europe’s first EMIs with direct SEPA entry, participating as a registered SEPA user.

BVNK’s announcement adds to this evolving landscape, showing that even specialised stablecoin-centric fintechs can integrate directly with major payment schemes when supported by regulatory-friendly infrastructure partners.

What This Means for Customers and Partners

In practical terms, BVNK’s direct SEPA access — combined with its stablecoin and multi-rail architecture — means that businesses using its platform can expect:

• Instant euro receipts and payouts for European and international operations.
• Unified settlement environments across traditional and digital asset rails.
• Simplified compliance and operational overhead due to fewer third-party dependencies.

For partners building on BVNK’s APIs, this translates to faster onboarding for clients, quicker time-to-market for euro payment functionality, and a competitive edge in offering global money movement services.

Looking Ahead

BVNK expects that by the end of 2026, 96% of payments processed through its SEPA connection will be fully automated, and payout success rates will exceed 95%, underlining its confidence in scaling this capability.

As the financial ecosystem continues to embrace hybrid infrastructures — combining fiat rails with blockchain-centric models — BVNK’s direct SEPA access puts it in a strong position to lead in seamless, instant, multi-currency settlement — especially for businesses expanding across Europe and beyond.

Conclusion

BVNK’s attainment of direct SEPA access via the Bank of Lithuania’s CENTROlink system represents a transformative moment in payments infrastructure, bridging traditional euro payment networks with cutting-edge stablecoin settlement. By removing intermediaries, reducing latency, and enhancing operational control, BVNK is paving the way for faster, more efficient money movement across fiat and digital rails — a capability increasingly vital in a world where global commerce and digital finance converge.