XDC Ventures, the investment arm of the XDC Network, has acquired Contour Network, a blockchain-based platform for digitised Letters of Credit (LCs) originally backed by a consortium of global banks. The acquisition marks a major milestone for the digital trade finance industry and aims to connect traditional finance with Web3 technologies.
Strengthening XDC Network’s institutional position
Contour Network, previously supported by financial giants including HSBC, Standard Chartered, BNP Paribas, Citi, DBS, ING, Bangkok Bank, and CTBC Bank, will be revived under XDC Ventures. The move enhances XDC Network’s position as a leading Layer-1 blockchain for institutional cross-border trade finance and real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation, reinforcing its growing role as a trusted partner for banks, corporates, and regulators.
“By combining Contour’s global LC consortium with the XDC Network’s hybrid blockchain and Web3 ecosystem, we’re creating the most powerful institutional gateway for tokenised trade finance and cross-border settlement,” said Atul Khekade, Co-founder of the XDC Network and XDC Ventures.
XDC Ventures has secured investment commitments from leading funds to drive Contour’s international expansion and adoption among banks and corporates. To support this growth while maintaining strong compliance and regulatory standards, the company plans to bring in strategic investors with experience in risk management, compliance, and global trade networks.
The XDC Network’s credibility is reinforced by partnerships with SBI Japan, Deutsche Telekom, Circle, and its integration with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) Singapore’s TradeTrust framework, which collectively boost institutional trust and interoperability.
Launch of the Stable-Coin Lab
Following the acquisition, XDC Ventures will launch a Stable-Coin Lab as part of Contour’s next growth phase. The lab will focus on building regulated stable-coin pilots with banks and corporates to improve settlement efficiency and treasury management. These pilots will be developed under emerging frameworks such as the Genius Act, allowing participants to gain hands-on experience in using stable-coins for compliant cross-border transactions.
The initiative also aims to optimise working capital through Contour’s infrastructure, develop functional APIs for stable-coin-based LC settlement, and enable integration with existing banking systems to shorten transaction processing from days to near real-time. The XDC Network’s blockchain will serve as the underlying layer to deliver enhanced programmability and real-world utility for institutional trade finance.
“Banks need settlement rails, treasury optimisation, and compliance frameworks. We’re building all three,” said Ritesh Kakkad, Co-founder of XDC Network and XDC Ventures. “We see Contour not only as a trade-finance network but as an enabler of compliant stable-coin use cases that can deliver new efficiencies and revenue streams for banks and corporates.”
Driving the Web3–TradFi connection
Contour will integrate the XDC Network as its tokenisation and settlement infrastructure, enabling faster and lower-cost cross-border transactions. Circle’s recent support for USDC on XDC will also allow regulated stable-coin settlements, providing efficient on- and off-ramps through global partners and bridging the gap between LC documentation and instant digital settlement.
Contour has already reduced LC processing times from five to ten days to just a few hours for live trades in sectors such as commodities and manufacturing. Its integration with the XDC Network, which has been operational since 2019 and supports EVM-compatible RWA tokenisation, establishes a stronger foundation for compliant tokenised settlements, improved liquidity, and accelerated global trade.
Next steps for XDC Ventures and Contour
In the coming months, XDC Ventures will focus on setting up the Stable-Coin Lab, launching pilot projects with consortium members, and deploying API-based LC settlements on the XDC Network. The company also plans to integrate XDC’s blockchain with Contour’s Corda workflows, collaborate with regulators in the US, EU, GCC, and Asia under the Genius Act, and expand its ecosystem through strategic partnerships to further strengthen the Web3–TradFi bridge.
