# Astra

## Borderless Banking Powered by Stellar

### Built on Stellar

## Overview

Astra is a Stellar-native treasury and cross-border banking platform built for African businesses.

We enable businesses across Africa to receive, hold, convert, and move money globally using modern financial infrastructure powered by the Stellar network.

By combining local payment rails with USDC on Stellar, Astra provides fast, low-cost, and transparent global payments while delivering a seamless business banking experience.

With Astra, businesses can:

- Receive international payments
- Hold multi-currency balances
- Access USD-denominated treasury services
- Convert USDC into local African currencies
- Pay suppliers, employees, and contractors globally
- Manage business finances from a single dashboard

Our mission is simple:

**Give every African business access to the global financial system through Stellar-powered infrastructure.**

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## Why Stellar

Cross-border payments across Africa remain slow, expensive, and fragmented.

Traditional international transfers often involve:

- Multiple intermediary banks
- High transaction fees
- Settlement delays
- Limited transparency

Astra uses the Stellar network as its settlement layer.

This enables:

### Fast Settlement

Transactions settle within seconds instead of days.

### Lower Costs

Businesses avoid many of the fees associated with traditional correspondent banking systems.

### Global Reach

Businesses can send and receive value globally using USDC on Stellar.

### Transparent Infrastructure

All settlements are traceable and verifiable.

### Financial Inclusion

Businesses gain access to modern financial tools regardless of local banking limitations.

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## The Problem

African businesses face significant barriers when participating in the global economy.

### Expensive International Payments

Cross-border transactions remain costly and inefficient.

### Limited Access to Dollar-Based Services

Businesses require access to USD for trade, software subscriptions, imports, and international operations.

### Fragmented Financial Systems

Companies often rely on multiple providers for:

- Payments
- Foreign exchange
- Treasury management
- Invoicing
- International transfers

### Currency Risk

Businesses operating in local currencies face volatility that impacts planning and growth.

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## Our Solution

Astra combines Stellar-powered stablecoin settlement with local financial infrastructure.

Businesses can:

### Receive USDC on Stellar

Customers anywhere in the world can pay businesses directly using USDC.

### Hold Digital Dollar Balances

Store treasury funds in USDC while maintaining local currency access.

### Convert USDC Into Local Currency

Supported payout corridors include:

- NGN
- KES
- GHS
- ZAR

### Send Global Payments

Pay:

- Suppliers
- Freelancers
- Contractors
- Remote employees

using Stellar-powered settlement.

### Manage Treasury

Gain real-time visibility across balances, payments, settlements, and currency exposure.

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## How Astra Works

### Example Scenario

A software agency in Lagos provides services to a client in the United States.

#### Step 1

The client sends 5,000 USDC.

#### Step 2

The payment settles on Stellar within seconds.

#### Step 3

Astra credits the agency treasury account.

#### Step 4

The agency chooses to:

- Hold USDC
- Convert to NGN
- Pay contractors
- Fund business operations

#### Step 5

Local payouts are executed through regulated financial partners.

### The Result

- Faster settlements
- Lower fees
- Better treasury management
- Improved cash flow

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## Core Product Features

### Stellar USDC Accounts

Every business receives a Stellar-compatible treasury account.

Benefits include:

- Fast settlement
- Global interoperability
- Dollar-denominated balances

### Multi-Currency Treasury

Manage:

- USDC
- USD
- NGN
- KES
- GHS
- ZAR

from a single dashboard.

### Local Currency Off-Ramps

Convert USDC into local African currencies seamlessly.

### Cross-Border Business Payments

Pay vendors and partners globally using Stellar infrastructure.

### Invoice Generation

Generate professional invoices with integrated payment options.

### Treasury Dashboard

Track:

- Cash flow
- Balances
- Currency exposure
- Settlement history

in real time.

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## Why Astra Matters

Millions of African businesses are becoming global.

Financial infrastructure has not kept pace.

Astra gives businesses access to:

- Global payments
- Digital dollars
- Treasury tools
- Modern financial services

without requiring them to understand blockchain technology.

For businesses, Astra feels like modern banking.

Under the hood, Stellar powers settlement.

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## Revenue Model

Astra generates revenue through:

### FX Conversion

Fees on USDC-to-local-currency conversions.

### Cross-Border Payments

Transaction fees on international business payments.

### Treasury Services

Premium treasury, reporting, and financial management tools.

### Subscription Plans

Advanced business accounts and team features.

### API Access

Infrastructure services for fintechs, marketplaces, and platforms.

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## Product Roadmap

### Phase 1 — Treasury MVP

- Business onboarding
- Stellar wallet provisioning
- USDC deposits
- USDC withdrawals
- Local currency payouts
- Invoice generation

### Phase 2 — Cross-Border Business Banking

- Multi-currency accounts
- International payments
- Treasury dashboard

### Phase 3 — Intelligent Treasury

- Cash flow forecasting
- AI bookkeeping
- Treasury optimization

### Phase 4 — Financial Infrastructure Platform

- Developer APIs
- Embedded finance
- Marketplace integrations
- Treasury-as-a-Service

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## Vision

We believe every African business should have access to the global economy.

Astra is building the financial operating system for African commerce using Stellar as the settlement layer.

Our long-term vision is a future where any entrepreneur in Africa can receive, manage, convert, and move money globally without friction, regardless of location or banking limitations.

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## Built on Stellar

Astra is designed to leverage Stellar's strengths:

- Fast settlement
- Low transaction costs
- Global interoperability
- Native USDC support
- Financial inclusion

By combining Stellar with local payment infrastructure, Astra creates a bridge between global capital and African businesses.

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## Tagline

**Astra — The Financial Operating System for African Commerce.**

Powered by Stellar.