Bridging crypto and real-world finance: CrossFi's mission to unlock true utility

Sam kamani

September 22, 2025

Crypto has come a long way—but spending it in the real world still feels like a broken promise.

That’s the tension at the heart of this episode of Web3 with Sam Kamani, featuring Alex from CrossFi, recorded live at DevCon. CrossFi isn’t just another DeFi platform—it’s a non-custodial Web3 banking solution aiming to make crypto genuinely usable, especially for underbanked populations across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

From marketing to mission

Alex’s journey into crypto began in 2016, working in marketing roles across blockchain projects. But the recurring pain point he encountered was simple: crypto lacked utility. People could trade tokens, stake them, and speculate—but when it came to real-world use, the experience was fragmented, slow, and custodial.

CrossFi was born to change that.

What is CrossFi?

At its core, CrossFi is a non-custodial Web3 bank. That means no centralized control, no locked-in accounts, and no compromise on ownership. Everything happens on-chain—from transactions to yield generation—and users remain in full control of their assets.

Key features include:

On-chain settlements directly from your wallet
MetaMask integration for seamless usability
Spending tools like cards and Apple Pay that let users make fiat payments with crypto in the background

Why this matters: The real-world gap

60% of the global population is either underbanked or unbanked. For them, traditional finance isn’t just inconvenient—it’s inaccessible. CrossFi’s approach could make crypto a viable alternative:

Payments for everyday items using crypto
Yield generation through cross-chain staking
Synthetic assets giving access to financial instruments like gold or stocks

By offering a unified, non-custodial platform, CrossFi bridges crypto with daily life.

The roadmap ahead

CrossFi isn’t stopping at payments. Their roadmap includes:

Synthetic asset protocols, giving users access to global financial markets
Meta Yield, a protocol scanning multiple chains for top APY opportunities
Banking integrations, bringing crypto into existing financial ecosystems

This multi-pronged vision aims to make CrossFi not just a crypto tool—but a full-stack financial platform.

Target users: Building where it’s needed most

While many DeFi products chase yield-maximizers in the West, CrossFi is focusing on the underserved. Alex talks about reaching users in:

Asia
Africa
Latin America

These regions often suffer from unstable financial systems or limited banking access. CrossFi’s goal is to empower individuals with control, access, and freedom.

DevCon, partnerships, and what’s next

At DevCon, Alex and the CrossFi team weren’t just there to talk. They were actively exploring partnerships—looking for:

RPC providers
Oracles
Bridges
Decentralized database tools

The goal? Build infrastructure that scales with user demand while keeping everything secure and decentralized.

The vision: Crypto utility without compromise

There’s a recurring theme in Alex’s story—user empowerment. Whether it's spending crypto at checkout, accessing staking returns, or trading synthetic assets, CrossFi wants to offer all of it without asking users to give up custody or compromise on decentralization.

As the space matures, this kind of infrastructure could become a core part of how DeFi moves from speculation to utility.