XDC Network says it is using the AUDDapt program to extend digital payment infrastructure to Australian small and medium-sized businesses. The initiative was launched by AUDC and is built around AUDD, a digital currency backed 1:1 by the Australian dollar. Under the arrangement, XDC serves as the strategic infrastructure partner, giving businesses that enter the XDC track access to grant support, technical assistance, and the network’s blockchain ecosystem.
Cross-border payment pain points remain unchanged for many SMEs
In the interview, Sean White said Australia has roughly 2.5 million small businesses generating a major share of national GDP, yet most still depend on payment systems that have seen little change in decades. For firms dealing with cross-border transactions, he identified three persistent issues: cost, speed, and visibility. Traditional banking rails often send payments through several intermediaries, with each layer adding fees and delays. A transfer that could be completed in minutes may take days, while the business owner gets limited insight into where the money is during the process.
White said XDC’s infrastructure is designed to address those three constraints directly. According to him, transactions on XDC settle in seconds, cost a fraction of traditional channels, and provide end-to-end transparency. Through the AUDDapt-XDC track, that setup is being offered to SMEs that want a more modern way to handle cross-border money movement.
AUDD sits at the center of the compliance case
White described AUDD as the feature that separates AUDDapt from other digital payment programs aimed at smaller businesses. Many such initiatives ask companies to transact using foreign-issued digital currencies that sit outside local regulatory structures. AUDD, by contrast, is issued by AUDC for local businesses and is fully backed 1:1 by the Australian dollar. In his view, that matters at a time when businesses are closely watching how digital payment rules are taking shape in Australia.
The interview also pointed to a recent amendment to Australia’s Corporations Act that was passed by both levels of government. White said the change creates a legislative framework that directly addresses digital asset platforms and gives businesses, investors, and regulators more clarity than before. He argued that AUDDapt already operating inside a compliant, locally regulated framework gives businesses more confidence as that rulebook takes form.
XDC wants to open institutional-grade rails to smaller firms
Beyond the grant itself, XDC presents its network as infrastructure already built for enterprise use. Company information included with the interview describes XDC Network as an open-source, EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain for payments, trade finance, and real-world assets, with high throughput, low fees, enterprise-grade security, and ISO 20022 compliance for interoperability with global financial messaging and payment systems.
White said the broader goal of the AUDDapt effort is to show that the gap between large institutions and SMEs in payments is no longer a technology issue. In his account, the technology has existed for years, but access has remained limited. If an Australian business can move cross-border payments in seconds and at a small fraction of legacy costs using this setup, he said, that would help make the case for a different model of SME finance.
For business owners weighing whether to apply, White said AUDDapt is not meant for technology specialists. It is aimed at Australian businesses with a real cross-border payment problem and a willingness to try a different operating model. Funding, technical guidance, and infrastructure are included through the program, and he said the barrier to entry is lower than many small business owners expect.