EZO OTC: Canadian Import-Export Companies Save Daily With Stablecoin Payments

Interested in seeing how money services businesses use EZO in their workflow? We’ve written articles about how cross-border payment companies and foreign exchange companies benefit from working with an OTC desk like ourselves.

The positioning of cryptocurrency has evolved significantly since the groundbreaking 2016 experiment born out of a collaboration between TradFi and DeFi industry actors. They successfully processed an international payment in 20 seconds, in what was termed one of the world’s first real time payments. At the time, the process via banking intermediaries would have easily taken up to six business days. 

While stablecoins were not yet part of the mainstream conversation, the experiment involving ATB Financial, Ripple, SAP and ReiseBank signaled to actors across crypto and traditional finance the potential of digital assets to power efficient and rapid payments across the globe.

Today, stablecoins like USDC and USDT are increasingly used by individuals and enterprises as legitimate payment instruments operating outside of traditional banking rails and their limited hours. The total volume of stablecoin transactions reached $33 trillion in 2025, a 72% increase compared to 2024. Yet, even in 2024 stablecoin transactions surpassed Visa’s annual volume that year ($16.7 trillion). Sending international payments using banks or even mobile alternatives like Western Union or Orange Money can still take several business days and are costly in terms of fees that rack up.

Stablecoins, on the other hand, have proven to be a reliable option combining the stability (as its name suggests) of fiat currencies like USD, and soon, CAD, with the high capacity of blockchain technology. For businesses, stablecoins can make the difference when every second counts and operations run around the clock.

Canadian import and export companies use EZO to access regulated stablecoins like USDC. Implementing stablecoins as part of their business processes allows them to:

• Save on FX fees when working with international suppliers or buyers; 
• Settle large invoices rapidly;
• Access 24/7 payment rails, avoiding delays caused by banking hours, weekends or holidays;
• Simplify cross-border transactions by bypassing complex correspondent banking networks
• Lower transaction costs compared to wire transfers, especially for high-frequency or high-volume payments;
• Increase payment transparency, with full audit trails available on-chain for compliance and reporting;
• Strengthen operational resilience by diversifying payment rails beyond traditional banks; and
• Provide a competitive edge by modernizing payment infrastructure relative to peers.

In this article, discover how import and export companies use EZO to optimize their cross-border payments.

In Sum

• Connect with our OTC desk to access stablecoins like USDC and cryptocurrencies such as BTC and ETH for your import-export operations.
• Settle large cross-border invoices in minutes rather than days, bypassing costly correspondent banking networks.
• Benefit from 24/7 payment rails, transparent pricing and a non-custodial model that keeps your funds under your full control at all times.
• Position your company ahead of the curve as digital assets become increasingly embedded in global financial infrastructure and international trade.

Stablecoins as an Operational Tool for Import and Export Companies

For import and export companies, payments are directly tied to the movement of goods, supplier relationships and overall cash flow management. An invoice delayed is often a shipment delayed, and a shipment delayed can have downstream effects on inventory cycles, customers and, ultimately, revenue. In that context, the inefficiencies of traditional banking rails can become a real constraint on operations, especially when payments must move across time zones, currencies and regulatory environments.

Traditional cross-border payments rely on correspondent banking networks that introduce multiple layers of intermediaries, each adding time, cost and operational uncertainty. Cut-off times, weekends and public holidays further fragment the process, creating situations where a payment initiated on a Friday may not be received until the following week. For businesses operating globally, this creates a structural mismatch between the 24/7 pace of commerce and the infrastructure supporting it.

Stablecoins address this mismatch by introducing a settlement layer that operates continuously and globally. Instead of relying on a chain of banks to process and confirm transactions, stablecoin payments are executed on blockchain networks that function around the clock. This removes dependency on banking hours and significantly reduces settlement times, allowing businesses to move funds when needed rather than when the system permits it.

How Import and Export Companies Use EZO: Operational Model

Other Canadian import and export companies like yours work with EZO to access stablecoin liquidity in a manner that is both operationally efficient and compliant with Canadian regulations. EZO operates as a FINTRAC-registered MSB, a Revenu Québec licensee and a Bank of Canada–registered PSP, positioning us as a regulated OTC desk capable of supporting businesses entering the stablecoin space for the first time.

In practice, the workflow remains close to existing processes, with the main difference being the settlement layer used. Initially, your company sends CAD to EZO with instructions to acquire a stablecoin such as USDC. EZO executes the transaction through our OTC desk, sourcing liquidity across vetted venues to find you the best price and applying transparent pricing under a pre-agreed fee structure.

Once the trade is completed, the stablecoins are delivered directly to your company’s designated wallet. When you receive an invoice from an international supplier, instead of initiating a traditional wire transfer, a payment in stablecoin can be sent at any time to the supplier or an off-ramp partner in the destination country, saving you time and money.

This structure allows you to maintain control over your operational flow while delegating execution and market access to a specialized liquidity provider. Rather than managing multiple exchange accounts, assessing counterparty risk or negotiating liquidity arrangements independently, companies like yours can rely on EZO to centralize these functions and reduce operational complexity when introducing stablecoins into the flow of funds.

At the same time, EZO’s non-custodial model of service allows your company to retain full control over your stablecoin holdings. No time is wasted on withdrawing funds, and payments can be sent directly on-chain to other wallet addresses.

EZO can also assist you when you need to convert your stablecoins in CAD and into your Canadian bank account or in USD to your U.S.-domiciled  bank account.

Where the Benefits Materialize

The advantages of using stablecoins through an OTC desk like EZO become apparent in the day-to-day realities of running an import or export business. Settlement speed improves significantly, with transactions that would typically take 3-5 business days being completed within minutes or hours, depending on the blockchain network used. This acceleration has a direct impact on cash flow management, allowing more efficient deployment of capital.

At the same time, the cost structure of cross-border payments becomes more predictable. Traditional wire transfers often involve a combination of explicit fees and hidden FX spreads applied at different stages of the transaction. Stablecoin transactions, by contrast, consolidate these costs into transparent execution pricing and minimal network fees, which can be particularly advantageous for high-value or high-frequency payments.

Operationally, the ability to transact outside of banking hours introduces a level of flexibility that is difficult to replicate with traditional systems. Payments can be executed in response to real-time needs, whether that involves securing inventory, responding to supplier requests or managing unexpected changes in demand. The removal of timing constraints reduces friction in all these areas and more.

Why Choose EZO’s Crypto OTC Desk: Access 24/7 Stablecoin Liquidity as an Import-Export Company

Maple Imports* is a Canadian company specializing in sourcing goods from overseas. On a regular basis, they are required to settle large invoices across borders in order to secure inventory and maintain their supply chain. Under traditional banking rails, initiating a wire transfer would involve multiple intermediary banks, resulting in settlement delays of several business days, during which suppliers may hold shipments or delay production until funds are confirmed.

By working with EZO’s crypto OTC desk, Maple Imports converts CAD into USDC stablecoin (and USDC into CAD) and receives the funds directly into its self-custodial wallet (or bank account) From its self-custodial wallet, payments are sent to suppliers globally, allowing for faster confirmation and reducing delays tied to traditional banking infrastructure. Suppliers can verify transactions on-chain and proceed without waiting for bank processing times, enabling more predictable settlement and smoother operations.

*This is a fictional example which reflects the reality of many of our import and export clients.

Like Maple Imports*, start working with EZO’s crypto OTC desk to benefit from:

• Human Customer Care and Support – Arrange your transactions by emailing one of our experts at info@ezo.app.  They are available and ready to help.
• Fees That Reward Your Loyalty – The more you trade with EZO, the less you’ll pay in fees on your next transactions.
• In Good Hands – EZO is FINTRAC-registered, Revenu Quebec-licensed as well as supervised by the Bank of Canada for the purposes of the Retail Payment Activities Act
• Non-Custodial Crypto Model – We send your crypto directly to your self-custodial or exchange wallet address. Your funds remain under your control at all times when you purchase crypto like USDC, BTC or ETH using EZO.
• Fast Settlement – Once transaction details have been confirmed and funds are received, you will receive your crypto at your specified cryptocurrency wallet address. When you sell your crypto holdings, you’ll receive them in your bank account.
• Gaining from Crypto Exposure – Adding crypto including BTC, ETH and USDC to your workflow via EZO’s crypto OTC desk allows you to  gain crypto market exposure.
• Referral Opportunities – Refer clients, business partners and more to our OTC desk and earn up to 15% of the fee charged by EZO when the referrals you make transact with us.

Who Can Benefit from a Business Account with EZO?

Canadian businesses from different industries and sectors and at every stage of growth have already introduced EZO’s crypto OTC desk within their workflow, accessing institutional-grade crypto and stablecoin liquidity at true market rates, with transparent, fair fees and zero hidden spreads.

• Foreign Exchange MSBs
• Cross-Border Money Transfer MSB
• Import & Export Companies
• Traditional Companies
• Institutions across sectors leverage EZO’s OTC desk for scalable liquidity and frictionless execution.

Connect with our crypto OTC desk team to explore how stablecoins like USDC and cryptocurrencies such as BTC and ETH can enhance your company’s positioning as digital assets become increasingly embedded in global financial infrastructure and the import-export industry.

We can help your company:

• Buy USDC with CAD or USD*;
• Sell USDC for CAD or USD*;
• Buy BTC with CAD or USD*;
• Sell BTC for CAD or USD*;
• Buy ETH with CAD or USD*;
• Sell ETH for CAD or USD*
• Swap between USDC, BTC and ETH;
• Contact our crypto OTC desk team for more.

*For USD crypto purchases and sales, a U.S.-Domiciled bank account denominated in USD is required.

Non-Custodial Structure and Control

An important component of EZO’s model is our non-custodial approach. EZO does not hold client assets; instead, digital assets are delivered directly to your designated wallet, and fiat proceeds are sent to your bank account upon sale. This ensures that businesses like yours retain full control over their funds at all times while clearly delineating responsibilities between execution and custody.

From a regulatory and risk management perspective, this structure aligns with Canadian expectations for money services businesses engaging in virtual currency activities, where custody introduces additional securities obligations and considerations. For import and export companies, it provides a way to access stablecoin exposure without introducing unnecessary complexity.

A Structural Shift in Cross-Border Payments

Stablecoins are increasingly being integrated into the financial workflows of businesses across Canada and globally, not as a replacement for all existing systems, but as an additional layer that addresses specific inefficiencies in cross-border payments. Import and export companies, given their exposure to international transactions and currency risk, are among the most immediate beneficiaries of this shift.

By enabling faster settlement, reducing costs and providing continuous access to payment rails, stablecoins allow businesses to align their financial operations more closely with the pace of global trade. As adoption continues to grow and regulatory frameworks evolve, their role in cross-border commerce is likely to expand further.

For Canadian import and export companies, the integration of stablecoins represents a practical evolution in how cross-border payments are executed. Rather than relying exclusively on systems designed for a different era of finance, you can now leverage a settlement layer that is faster, more flexible and better aligned with the demands of international trade.

Through EZO’s crypto OTC desk, companies gain access to this infrastructure in a way that is compliant, non-custodial and operationally efficient, allowing them to focus on their core business while modernizing a critical component of financial workflows.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does EZO hold my crypto funds?

No. EZO operates a non-custodial model, meaning digital assets are sent directly to your self-custodial or exchange wallet. Your funds remain under your control at all times.

Can EZO convert my stablecoins back to fiat currency?

Yes. EZO can convert your stablecoins back into CAD deposited to your Canadian bank account, or into USD for your U.S.-domiciled bank account.

Is there a referral program?

Yes. You can refer clients and business partners to EZO's OTC desk and earn up to 15% of the fee charged when your referrals transact with EZO.