Qupital Unveils World’s First AI-Driven On-Chain E-Commerce Lending Protocol, Accelerating Web3 Global Trade Finance
RWA Signal Insight
Private CreditHong Kong-based fintech firm Qupital has launched the world's first AI-driven on-chain e-commerce lending protocol on the Ethereum blockchain. By utilizing USDC for settlement and smart contracts for automated credit monitoring, the platform aims to bridge the US$2.5 trillion SME trade financing gap. The protocol integrates proprietary AI to monitor merchant sales performance in real-time, automatically intercepting cash flows via payment gateway APIs if metrics deviate from established parameters. This shift to on-chain operations replaces manual back-office processes with automated liquidity vaults, providing institutional lenders with real-time proof of reserves and auditability. Qupital, which has processed over US$9.5 billion in cumulative trade financing, has already established an active pipeline of US$100 million to be fulfilled through this new on-chain framework. This development marks a significant institutional move to integrate DeFi rails into global trade finance, enhancing capital efficiency and reducing operational friction for underserved digital merchants. The initiative underscores the growing trend of tokenizing real-world trade assets to provide 24/7 liquidity that traditional banking systems often struggle to deliver.
Key points
- Qupital launched an AI-driven on-chain lending protocol on Ethereum using USDC for settlement.
- The protocol targets a US$2.5 trillion SME trade financing gap with US$100 million in pipeline.
- Smart contracts automate risk control by linking AI credit monitoring to payment gateway APIs.
- Qupital has processed over US$9.5 billion in cumulative trade financing to date.
Background
Qupital is a Hong Kong-based fintech platform that specializes in providing data-driven financing solutions for e-commerce merchants. The company leverages proprietary AI and machine learning to analyze sales data from major platforms like Amazon and TikTok Shop to underwrite loans. It is backed by major financial institutions including HSBC and MUFG, and focuses on securitizing merchant loans to provide liquidity to businesses often ignored by traditional banks.