After attracting attention with its debut on Binance Launchpool and Binance Alpha, Huma Finance is positioning itself as a pioneer in the emerging PayFi (Payment Finance) space. By introducing DeFi-supported stablecoin liquidity into the global payment network, Huma Finance is unlocking the real-world application potential of decentralized finance. Meanwhile, Huma has gained support from well-known institutions such as the Solana Foundation, Circle, HashKey Capital, and the Stellar Development Foundation, and is operating across multiple blockchain networks, driving a new wave of evolution for real-world assets (RWA) in DeFi.
In this exclusive interview with Binance News, the Huma Finance team shared their thoughts on technical architecture, token economic models, compliance roadmaps, and how to promote the integration of traditional finance with a decentralized future.
1: Congratulations on launching on Binance Launchpool. What does this milestone mean for your team and community?
Launching on Binance Launchpool allowed us to instantly reach tens of millions of users, significantly accelerating the decentralization process of the $HUMA token, and validating our PayFi model at the highest level of the industry. This launch marks our entry into a new era of rapid growth—more partners, deeper liquidity, higher user engagement, and continuously enhancing network effects within the ecosystem.
2: You are the first project to simultaneously launch on Binance Alpha and Launchpool. What strategic value has this dual exposure brought you?
Binance Alpha helped us connect with seasoned funds and research institutions, while Launchpool allowed $HUMA to directly enter retail users' wallets. The combination significantly shortened the path from 'awareness to adoption,' enabling us to gain both institutional support and community enthusiasm within the same launch cycle.
3: Let's talk about your core innovation. What exactly is PayFi? Why is it considered a breakthrough in DeFi?
PayFi is a new financial paradigm proposed by Lily Liu, chair of the Solana Foundation, that merges payments with DeFi. PayFi transforms the time value of money into a programmable, tokenizable, and liquid market. Institutions can access stablecoin liquidity on-chain, accelerating cross-border payments and credit card settlements. Liquidity fees are transformed into real, sustainable earnings, unaffected by the volatility of the crypto market cycles. This opens up a native yield asset market in DeFi with practical use cases and scalability.
4: How does Huma's model help institutions utilize DeFi liquidity for payment settlements in the real world?
The traditional financial system is inefficient and no longer meets real-world needs. Whether it's vendor payment delays, high remittance costs, or bottlenecks in credit card settlements, the inefficiencies of the real world harm every participant. Huma addresses these issues through a DeFi-driven 24/7 global settlement mechanism. To date, we have processed over $4.5 billion in transactions through this model, helping businesses release operational funds and significantly improve cash flow.
5: Real-time payments are part of Huma's core mission. How does your smart contract achieve this while ensuring security and compliance?
Our smart contracts manage liquidity provision, reward distribution, borrower obligations, and the integration of the $HUMA token within the DeFi ecosystem. To ensure security, we have taken multiple measures:
Minimize administrator privileges: No administrator can directly operate user funds.
Top-level audit assurance: Huma 2.0 has passed the Halborn audit, with additional audits from institutions like Spearbit (EVM) and Certora (Stellar Soroban).
Online bug bounty program: We are collaborating with Cantina/Spearbit to conduct real-time bug bounty activities.
Operational security mechanisms: The system continuously conducts monitoring and penetration testing to ensure platform safety.
Legal structure setup: Huma 2.0 currently operates in offshore regions to support compliance without the need for licensing. We are also working to build a regulatory framework based in the United States, aiming to be one of the first DeFi protocols compliant in the U.S.
6: Besides governance functions, what other uses does the HUMA token have?
HUMA has three core uses:
Incentive mechanism: Used for liquidity providers (LP) and ecosystem rewards to drive liquidity and user participation.
Value accumulation: The Huma Foundation is designing mechanisms to redistribute protocol revenues to token holders for the long-term sustainability of the ecosystem.
Ecosystem currency: HUMA will be used to support advanced features such as 'real-time redemption' as the native utility token within the protocol.
7: Over 30% of HUMA's supply has been allocated for ecosystem growth. How will this portion be distributed?
We adopt a deflationary quarterly release model. The second round of airdrops (approximately 2.1% of total supply) is planned to be conducted about 3 months after TGE. After that, the token release volume will decrease by 7% each quarter, with specific release pacing adjustable based on the protocol's growth momentum and market conditions through the governance mechanism.
8: You have already deployed on Solana, Ethereum, and Stellar. Why choose a multi-chain strategy? What challenges does this bring?
Each chain has its unique advantages:
Solana: High throughput, low latency, and abundant stablecoin liquidity—very suitable for real-time payment scenarios.
Stellar: Built specifically for payments and connects traditional banking systems through 'anchors.'
Ethereum: Offers extensive DeFi composability and is more familiar to institutional users.
The challenge lies in maintaining and ensuring the security of multiple versions of smart contracts (Solana, EVM, Stellar), but the benefits brought by broader ecosystem integration and user coverage far outweigh this operational expense.
9: You have established partnerships with major institutions like Solana, Visa, and Circle. How do these collaborations shape your long-term strategy?
Early partnerships, especially with Circle, have enabled us to build on a trusted and compliant infrastructure. Support from Solana has helped us integrate core DeFi applications like Jupiter and Kamino, placing us at the core of the PayFi narrative. These collaborations have not only enhanced our credibility but also expanded our connection channels with frontline partners in traditional finance.
10: What specific advantages do Solana and Stellar bring to your ecosystem?
Solana: Supports capital markets at internet scale, real-time payments enabled by Solana Pay, and near-instant transaction finality—these are core capabilities necessary for building PayFi.
Stellar: Seamlessly access fiat payment channels and global remittance networks through the 'anchor' mechanism, perfectly fitting the needs of borderless payment infrastructure.
11: After launch, how has HUMA performed in the market? What are users most interested in?
After launch, HUMA's adoption rate has rapidly increased. Many users choose to stake HUMA to express their confidence in the project's long-term development. Especially after Circle's successful IPO, the real-world value of the PayFi track has been further validated, and users are enthusiastic about its future. Our community is very excited to be early participants in a project that could become the next important track in DeFi.
12: How are you expanding and activating the Huma community? Are you planning a DAO or ambassador program?
We are expanding the community from both 'breadth' and 'depth':
In terms of breadth: The goal is to expand the user base by 100 times through integration with mainstream wallets and Earn platforms.
In terms of depth: We will provide unique rights for stakers through product updates while inviting community members to participate in protocol governance and strategic decisions, enhancing community cohesion and engagement.
13: Given the increasingly stringent regulatory environment, how does Huma ensure compliance while maintaining decentralization?
Compliance is our bottom line, especially in the context of building partnerships with institutions.
Huma Institutional operates tokenized PayFi assets under the Swiss DLT Act;
Huma 2.0 achieves anti-money laundering (AML) compliance through integration with Chainalysis.
We have also hired top legal advisors to assist us in advancing compliance processes in markets like the U.S. and Asia.
14: What’s next for Huma? Can you share future roadmap and expansion plans?
Token launch (TGE) is just the beginning; here are the highlights of our upcoming roadmap:
Q2 2025
Launch HUMA staking feature
Integrate Global Dollar Network
Q3 2025
Achieve a unified experience of PST and staking on the Huma DApp
Launch priority redemption features and HUMA governance mechanisms
Deepen integration in Solana DeFi
Cumulative trading volume exceeds $5 billion
Q4 2025
Launch real-time card payment settlement feature
Achieve cross-chain support for PST
Announce significant traditional finance partnerships
Cumulative trading volume exceeds $10 billion
First half of 2026
Acquire compliance licenses in the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, UAE, Switzerland, and other regions
Launch Treasury Companion products for payment service providers
Cumulative trading volume exceeds $20 billion
Second half of 2026
Support for real-time foreign exchange settlement for stablecoins or fiat currencies
Cumulative trading volume exceeds $40 billion
