Singapore‑based crypto middleware firm StraitsX has raised US $3.2 million in funding to enhance its settlement infrastructure for real-time cross-border transactions. The round, featuring investors like Z Venture Capital and Iterative, aims to support StraitsX’s expansion across Southeast Asia—starting with a planned launch in Indonesia later this year. The startup integrates stablecoin-backed payments into merchant systems, enabling instant and programmable settlements via its middleware platform. Its Pay‑As‑You‑Sell Advance (PAYS) solution has already onboarded over 5,000 merchants across 10 ecosystems in Malaysia. StraitsX targets scaling to 50,000 merchants by end‑2025.