Retail NHB distribution
Launch NHB across your retail channels
CEXs, DEXs, money transmitters, microfinance banks, and private exchanges plug into NHB APIs to issue balances, manage treasury, and deliver compliant payouts for everyday customers across North America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and the UAE.
API capabilities
Everything you need to commercialize NHB
Bundle NHB with your existing onboarding, treasury, and compliance stack while our APIs automate issuance, redemption, and reporting.
- Programmatic issuance, redemption, and settlement via REST APIs and webhooks.
- Embedded KYB, travel rule, and sanctions screening orchestration.
- Real-time liquidity, treasury, and reconciliation alerts.
Why retailers choose NHB
Serve your customers with a bank-grade stable asset
Extend digital asset accounts, payment tools, and loyalty experiences by distributing NHB under your retail permissions.
Channel-ready distribution
Activate NHB across centralized & decentralized exchanges, mobile wallets, teller networks, and private marketplaces under your licences.
Retailer-first APIs
Embed issuance, balance management, conversions, and payouts through a single integration tailored to your compliance program.
Trusted operations
Shared risk dashboards, incident workflows, and regulator-facing reporting keep your retail programs audit ready.
Compliance partnership
Operate under your permissions with NHB oversight
A shared diligence framework accelerates approvals while protecting retail consumers in every market you serve.
Discovery & KYB intake
Provide complete KYB dossiers, beneficial ownership, and customer journeys so we can map eligibility and controls.
Integration & controls testing
Connect to sandbox APIs, simulate settlement flows, and calibrate monitoring rules before going live.
Launch & continuous monitoring
Coordinate regulator notices, schedule audits, and receive ongoing surveillance alerts tied to your programmes.
What we review together
- Comprehensive KYB documentation, licences, and policy attestations.
- API-driven reporting hooks for travel rule, suspicious activity, and settlement reconciliation.
- Named compliance owners and escalation contacts for every jurisdiction.
- Launch cadence, liquidity reporting schedules, and customer support coverage.
Licensing coverage
Retail NHB programmes supported today
Explore the regulators and licence scopes we currently accept across the United States, Europe, Africa, Australia, and the UAE for retail distribution partners.
Jurisdiction overview
United States
We work with money transmitters and virtual asset service providers licensed to serve US retail users.
Primary regulator: Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
Federal MSB registration
Required for money services businesses that distribute NHB to consumers across state lines.
Permitted activities
- Consumer money transmission and remittance services
- Virtual currency exchange or custodial services
- Stored value issuance and wallet programmes
Key obligations
- Maintain a written AML programme and designated compliance officer
- File SARs, CTRs, and travel rule reports via automated channels
- Provide consumer disclosures, dispute workflows, and support coverage
State money transmitter or virtual currency licences
Supports regional wallet, exchange, and teller distribution with state-level approvals.
Permitted activities
- Spot exchange and liquidity provisioning for retail order flow
- Hosted and non-custodial wallet issuance
- Merchant payouts, bill pay, and cash-out experiences
Key obligations
- Meet state net worth and permissible investment requirements
- Appoint local compliance leadership and reporting contacts
- Submit to routine examinations and provide independent audit results
We prioritise partners with proven consumer protection controls and third-party examinations.
Jurisdiction overview
European Economic Area
Eligible partners hold EMI or MiCA authorisations that cover retail wallets, exchanges, or payment programmes.
Primary regulator: European Banking Authority passported regulators
Electronic money institution (EMI)
Supports retail issuance, payment accounts, and cross-border remittances across the EEA.
Permitted activities
- Issuance and redemption of NHB-backed electronic money
- Domestic and cross-border payment initiation
- Passporting rights across EEA member states
Key obligations
- Maintain ongoing capital and safeguarding requirements
- Segregate customer funds with approved safeguarding institutions
- Operate governance, risk, and compliance functions suited to retail scale
MiCA virtual asset service provider (VASP)
Allows exchanges and marketplaces to list, custody, and settle NHB for retail participants.
Permitted activities
- Spot trading venues and OTC desks for retail customers
- Custody and wallet management services
- Transfer and redemption services between accounts and counterparties
Key obligations
- Register with the competent authority and maintain consumer disclosures
- Implement travel rule data sharing for transfers above local thresholds
- Operate surveillance and market abuse monitoring controls
Partners must evidence MiCA transition plans and customer remediation processes.
Jurisdiction overview
Singapore
We accept major payment institutions and standard payment institutions that retail NHB within Singapore or cross-border.
Primary regulator: Monetary Authority of Singapore
Major payment institution licence
Supports high-volume consumer distribution and token services with MAS oversight.
Permitted activities
- Domestic money transfer and wallet services
- Cross-border remittance and payouts
- Digital payment token dealing or exchange services
Key obligations
- Implement MAS cybersecurity, technology risk, and outsourcing standards
- Deliver AML/CFT controls, suspicious transaction reporting, and screening
- Provide MAS with ongoing returns, audits, and incident notifications
Standard payment institution licence
For growth-stage providers expanding NHB access with capped transaction volumes.
Permitted activities
- Retail remittance and bill payment support
- Merchant acquiring and payout services
- Stored value facilities and card-linked NHB experiences
Key obligations
- Observe base capital thresholds and safeguarding requirements
- Maintain compliance staffing and customer remediation playbooks
- File periodic returns and notify MAS of material changes
We coordinate closely on MAS feedback and can assist with parallel sandbox engagements.
Jurisdiction overview
Kenya
We support partners authorised by the CMA to issue or intermediate virtual assets for Kenyan retail users.
Primary regulator: Capital Markets Authority (CMA)
Payment service provider licence
Covers retail payment and remittance programmes delivering NHB via mobile money and bank channels.
Permitted activities
- Retail payments, bill pay, and mobile money settlements
- Cross-border remittance corridors into and out of Kenya
- Safeguarding and float management for customer funds
Key obligations
- Ring-fence client assets and maintain approved trust accounts
- Provide transparent tariff schedules and consumer disclosures
- Report large and suspicious transactions to the CMA and FRC
Virtual asset service provider sandbox authorisation
Allows regulated pilots of virtual asset issuance, exchange, or custody with Kenyan residents.
Permitted activities
- Listing and matching virtual asset orders
- Custodial wallet management and safekeeping
- Supervised distribution through mobile money agent networks
Key obligations
- Implement continuous transaction monitoring and travel rule controls
- Maintain audited cyber resilience and incident response plans
- Vet, train, and oversee delegated agent networks
Partners must evidence interoperability with mobile money providers and ongoing consumer education campaigns.
Jurisdiction overview
South Africa
We work with FSCA-licensed institutions serving South African retail clients under the Crypto Asset and Payments frameworks.
Primary regulator: Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA)
Crypto asset service provider licence
Supports crypto asset intermediation, custody, and advisory services for retail channels.
Permitted activities
- Brokerage and over-the-counter crypto asset execution
- Payment distribution and merchant settlement using NHB
- Derivative or structured product distribution referencing NHB
Key obligations
- Meet FSCA fit-and-proper requirements for key individuals
- Submit ongoing compliance reports and incident notifications
- Demonstrate Treat Customers Fairly outcomes across channels
Payment service provider registration
Enables domestic transfers, wallets, and cash agents under the National Payment System framework.
Permitted activities
- Issue custodial and non-custodial wallets for consumers
- Domestic and cross-border remittance payouts
- Deploy cash-in/cash-out agent networks with NHB liquidity
Key obligations
- Maintain settlement guarantees and prescribed capital buffers
- Reconcile settlement positions and submit SARB reports
- Operate multilingual consumer support and dispute processes
We prioritise partners coordinating with SARB and Intergovernmental Fintech Working Group initiatives.
Jurisdiction overview
Australia
Eligible partners maintain AUSTRAC registration and, where required, ASIC authorisations covering digital currency exchange and financial services.
Primary regulator: Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC)
Digital currency exchange (DCE) registration
Required for businesses exchanging NHB for fiat or other virtual assets with Australian retail customers.
Permitted activities
- Fiat on/off ramping between AUD and NHB
- Stablecoin issuance and redemption for Australian residents
- API-driven reporting into AUSTRAC for threshold and suspicious transactions
Key obligations
- Operate and audit a compliant AML/CTF programme
- Maintain AUSTRAC enrolment data and submit event-based updates
- Undergo regular independent compliance reviews and staff training
Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) authorisation
Supports investment products, custody, and advice involving NHB-backed offerings.
Permitted activities
- Issue or distribute derivatives referencing NHB balances
- Provide custody or depository services for client assets
- Deliver regulated advice to retail clients on NHB products
Key obligations
- Meet ongoing capital and financial resource requirements
- Hold adequate compensation arrangements for retail clients
- Lodge breach reports and periodic returns with ASIC
Partners must demonstrate integration with AUSTRAC reporting systems and ASIC conduct standards.
Jurisdiction overview
United Arab Emirates (Dubai)
We collaborate with VARA-authorised firms operating retail virtual asset services from Dubai.
Primary regulator: Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA)
VARA Minimum Viable Product (MVP) licence
Supports phased launch of exchange, broker, or custodial services during VARA's MVP stage.
Permitted activities
- Operate order books and retail exchange venues
- Brokerage and dealing services for NHB
- Custodial safeguarding and wallet management
Key obligations
- Establish UAE-based governance and responsible individuals
- Evidence risk management, compliance, and audit functions
- Deliver clear disclosures and client asset segregation
VARA Full Market Product (FMP) licence
Unlocks full-scale retail distribution, payments, and institutional services leveraging NHB.
Permitted activities
- Issue and redeem NHB-linked stablecoin products
- Facilitate payments and merchant acceptance networks
- Offer treasury, lending, and staking services to institutions
Key obligations
- Maintain prudential capital and safeguarding thresholds
- Provide audited technology and cyber resilience attestations
- Obtain VARA approval for marketing and promotions
Applicants should align with local substance requirements and free zone policies.
Questions from retail partners
Get clarity before you apply
Answers to the most common questions from CEXs, DEXs, money transmitters, microfinance banks, and private exchanges.
Who qualifies to retail NHB?
We onboard regulated entities with active licences to serve retail users-such as CEXs, DEXs with compliance entities, money transmitters, microfinance banks, and private exchanges-with demonstrable consumer protection controls.
How do the retailer APIs integrate?
Your teams receive sandbox credentials, API specs, and webhook schemas to automate issuance, treasury movements, reporting, and compliance checks directly from your existing platforms.
What is the onboarding timeline?
Complete KYB packages are reviewed in 5-10 business days. Integration testing typically runs 2-4 weeks depending on jurisdictions and readiness of your control environment.
Application overview
Submit your complete KYB dossier
Share who you are, how you are regulated, and how NHB will reach retail users so we can confirm eligibility.
Submit a thorough package to avoid delays. We prioritise applications with audited KYB, compliance policies, and mapped customer journeys.
- Company and beneficial ownership information
- Jurisdictional licences, regulators, and authorised activities
- Named compliance, legal, and operations contacts
We review complete KYB submissions within ten business days and provide next steps or remediation plans.