AUDC launches first bank-grade New Zealand stablecoin to revolutionise payments
AUDC, the issuer of the AUDD Australian dollar stablecoin, has announced the launch of its New Zealand stablecoin, NZDC, to support efficiencies for the New Zealand banking sector by making payments and settlements faster, cheaper and more transparent.
Building on the success of its Australian dollar stablecoin, AUDD, which has already processed more than $2 billion in transactions, NZDC extends its proven digital currency platform into a new geography, with the objective of supporting real-time, 24/7 payments that reduce settlement times from days to near instant.
The announcement comes as New Zealand remains underrepresented in global digital asset markets, despite NZD being a top 10 traded currency globally. Less than 0.1 per cent of the global stablecoin market capitalisation is denominated in NZD.
CEO of AUDC, Effie Dimitropoulos, said there is currently no bank-grade, fully attested NZD stablecoin on the market, meaning the country is lagging behind emerging leaders such as the United States, Europe and Australia.
“Government data in New Zealand has identified that there are over 350,000 digital asset owners in New Zealand, undertaking around 57 million transactions valued at NZ$36 billion. These numbers are growing rapidly and it’s important that the infrastructure is in place to support it, particularly at an institutional level,” Ms Dimitropoulos said.
“Despite NZD being a top 10 traded currency globally, institutional adoption of a NZD-backed stablecoin has been virtually non-existent, creating a gap that has real costs for New Zealand businesses transacting across borders. NZDC, in conjunction with local banking partners, is designed to close it.”
Ms Dimitropoulos noted the launch is designed to support institutional-grade digital payments and unlock more efficient Trans-Tasman settlement between Australia and New Zealand, one of the region’s busiest trade corridors.
“Our two-way trade is valued at more than NZ$30 billion, where the vast majority of this is transacted on outdated payment rails that are leaving banks and institutions waiting days for settlement and payment to go through.”
NZDC has been structured to operate within New Zealand’s regulatory framework, with the issuer registered locally and aligned to the Financial Service Providers Register requirements.
The platform incorporates AML/CTF controls and has applied to join the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme, ensuring a compliance-first approach from launch.
As a fiat-backed stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the New Zealand dollar, NZDC leverages AUDC’s established governance, compliance and treasury frameworks, as well as its existing banking and custody relationships.
The launch follows a landmark industry delegation to New Zealand, coordinated by Blockchain APAC and Blockchain NZ, in which AUDC CEO Effie Dimitropoulos participated as a key representative of Australia’s leading regulated stablecoin issuer.
The delegation conducted 32 meetings across Auckland and Wellington with banks, regulators, critical infrastructure providers, super funds, law firms and government stakeholders. This includes 13 politicians from across the political spectrum, as well as 22 attendees from key government agencies, including MBIE, MFAT, IRD, FMA and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand – all during a busy Budget week.
“The breadth of political engagement was a pleasant surprise. Across four parties, the questions weren’t about whether digital assets have a role in New Zealand’s future but about how to make that future work for ordinary New Zealanders. That cross-party curiosity is exactly the foundation needed to build something durable, and it left us energised,” Ms Dimitropoulos said.
NZDC will be available within coming weeks.
