Goodbye Banks! Latin America Now has its Digital Financial Passport called Meru

Sending, receiving, and protecting money remains a challenge for millions, especially in Latin America—a region accustomed to navigating financial difficulties

In LATAM, an alternative emerged to change the rules of the game: Meru. It’s a financial app that lets users hold a U.S. dollar account, manage stablecoins like USD Coin (USDC), make payments, send money, and access funds without relying on traditional banks or facing arbitrary blocks.

Meru’s proposal combines the best of the crypto world with a user experience as simple as sending a message. Its key difference is offering real financial sovereignty: funds stay in users’ hands, not with third parties.

"We don’t just offer a U.S. dollar account—we give users full control of their funds. No intermediaries, no permissions, no arbitrary blocks," explains Amílcar Erazo, co-founder, CEO, and CTO of the fintech.

The app’s design starts from a clear premise: financial freedom shouldn’t be a privilege. Anyone, with or without finance experience, can use Meru to receive payments, make transfers, pay bills or subscriptions, and manage money intuitively, quickly, and securely.

But who is this solution for? Its ideal audience isn’t a niche—it’s a global community sharing a common reality: life between borders. From remote freelancers to migrants sending money to families, or digital entrepreneurs needing unrestricted international operations.

"They all share one thing: wanting a global, simple, reliable solution. And Meru speaks directly to them," the entrepreneur noted.

Technologically, Meru’s core is blockchain, giving users full control of funds at all times. Thanks to stablecoins like USDC, money stays stable and accessible even in volatile financial environments.

"We use this tech to cut costs, boost transparency, and build a system that works when traditional systems fail," the CEO stated.

Meru also operates with strict regulatory compliance. It partners with regulated entities in the U.S. and Europe, implementing KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) processes via advanced tech. "Operating freely doesn’t mean operating without rules. Compliance is how we build trust," he emphasized.

According to Erazo, Meru’s user experience was built by actively listening to the community. Many features emerged from real user conversations.

"They asked to pay bills, withdraw local currency, get a physical card… we listened. The beauty is they feel Meru is theirs—and they’re right: we’re building it together," he stressed.

Born from frustration

Meru’s origin, however, is deeply personal. "Years ago, we migrated from Venezuela—like millions regionally—seeking stability and opportunity," Erazo shared.

Though he and his team earned dollars as freelancers, cashing out and using it daily was arduous. That frustration sparked the idea.

"Meru is our answer: empowering anyone to control money without banks that ignore their needs or reality," he said.

Expansion posed another major challenge, as Latin America’s patchwork of regulations, restrictions, and surprises demanded creative navigation.

"Each country has its own rules and surprises. We learned to adapt without losing our essence," he affirmed. Meru positions itself as a global financial infrastructure that localizes without sacrificing security or user experience.

Regarding growth, Erazo credits the app’s value: "Our best campaign solves real problems. Users don’t just use Meru—they recommend it."

Looking ahead, plans are ambitious: near-term consolidation across Latin America; mid-term expansion into Africa and Southeast Asia; long-term, becoming "the financial passport for the new economy."