Getsurf
SurfCash is a self-custodial mobile wallet that lets travelers and expats pay merchants in local currency by scanning QR codes without opening local bank accounts. Users hold a USD balance, scan supported QR terminals across Vietnam, Brazil, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Mexico, and pay in about ten seconds at a 0.5% platform fee. The app also offers up to 10% APY on idle USD balances and 2% cashback on rent payments.
- Artificial Intelligence
- Financial Technology
- Software Only
Funding
Founders
Product
Problem
Traditional payment methods fail for people living or traveling abroad: international cards are often declined or hide 3–6% conversion fees, and international wires take days to settle. Opening a local bank account in countries like Vietnam, Brazil, Nigeria, the Philippines, or Mexico typically requires residency paperwork that most visitors do not have, leaving them without a practical way to pay merchants.
Solution
SurfCash provides a self-custodial money app that lets users hold a USD balance on their phone and pay local merchants by scanning supported QR codes. The app supports VietQR, PIX, PalmPay, QRPh, and SPEI, enabling users to complete payments in about ten seconds without opening a local bank account. Users control their private keys, and licensed payment partners settle the merchant in local currency. The platform charges a flat 0.5% fee per QR payment, with network costs shown transparently before confirmation.
Target Audience
Primary users are expatriates, digital nomads, and travelers living or staying abroad who need to make local payments without local bank accounts, as well as landlords seeking a reliable way to receive rent from international tenants.
Features
- Self-custodial wallet where only the user holds the private keys
- QR-based payments via VietQR, PIX, PalmPay, QRPh, and SPEI across five countries
- Transparent pricing with a flat 0.5% platform fee per payment and network costs displayed upfront
- Up to 10% APY on eligible idle USD balances via Perena, with a lower fixed insured rate option
- 2% cashback on rent payments, credited directly to the wallet
- No subscription, no account fee, no minimum balance, and free bill splits between SurfCash users