Ep. 21 - Rail: Bridging Banks and Stablecoins — The Future of Cross-Border Payments, with Xander Hastings

In this episode, hosts Grant Evans and Justin Hanna sit down with Alexander (Xander) Hastings, Head of Channel Partnerships at Rail, to explore how Rail is redefining cross-border payments by bridging the gap between traditional banking infrastructure and stablecoin networks.With Rail powering roughly 10% of all global B2B stablecoin payments — about $3.6B annually — the conversation unpacks how the company is building the connective tissue for a more reliable, transparent, and compliant global payments ecosystem.Grant, Justin, and Xander dive into the evolution of stablecoins as payment rails (not speculative assets), the importance of multi-bank redundancy, and how hybrid infrastructure is transforming the speed and efficiency of international money movement. They also discuss Ripple’s recent investment in Rail, what it means for corridor expansion, liquidity access, and the broader shift toward collaboration between established players and fintech innovators.Plus, Xander joins Grant and Justin for The Payments Shed’s legendary Shelf of Shame — to nominate something he’s ready to banish forever.***The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by TAMI AI.TAMI AI is the market intelligence and lead generation platform built for sales and marketing teams who want precision, not guesswork. TAMI helps businesses identify their best-fit prospects, gain deep market insights, and boost revenue growth, and it has become the go-to solution for the payments and fintech industries.⁠⁠⁠https://tami.ai/⁠⁠⁠***The Payments Shed Podcast is supported by PCN.PCN is a boutique recruitment agency rooted in Amsterdam, driven by a singular mission: connecting top talent with industry leaders. PCN specialises in five core pillars — Fintech, Cybersecurity, SaaS, E-Commerce, and Salesforce — backed by a global network across borders.⁠⁠⁠https://teampcn.com/⁠⁠⁠***Disclaimer. Any views or opinions referenced in this podcast episode are our own, or those of our respective guests, and they do not represent any views, opinions, or statements from our respective employers, or those of our guests. Additionally, any views expressed here are not intended as investment, legal, tax, or financial advice.