A few weeks ago, I landed a client on LinkedIn for a freelance job. It was a startup project in San Francisco, about $350. Not bad until PayPal held it, the banks dragged their feet, and exchange rates took a big bite. By the time it landed in my account, that $350 didn’t feel like $350 anymore. And this isn’t just my story, it’s the story of millions of people who work, trade, or hustle across borders. The money is earned fast, but moves painfully slow. That’s the exact gap Gluwa is trying to bridge: making crypto and traditional finance work together so people actually get paid what they earned, without the middlemen eating chunks of it. get paid what they earned, without the middlemen eating chunks of it. get paid what they earned, But what exactly is the problem? The Old System is Broken The Old System is Broken In Nigeria, I’ve seen up close how outdated the financial system really is, and it’s the same story all over the world. We still lean on old-school banks, slow credit systems, and processes that feel like they were designed centuries ago, even though almost everyone has a smartphone in their pocket today. The result? Billions of people are left out. Roughly 1.4 billion people around the world don’t have access to proper banking. For them, opening an account can mean endless forms, long trips to a branch, and more often than not, rejection. 1.4 billion people 1.4 billion people No bank account means no credit history, no collateral, and no chance at getting a loan. Sending money across borders takes days and swallows up fees, instead of happening instantly. Entrepreneurs can’t grow, farmers can’t get funding, and economies get stuck. Honestly, it feels like trying to run a modern online business with stone-age tools. The problem here is that the traditional banking system assumes everyone has the same starting point: an ID, a local bank branch, and a pile of cash. But that’s not reality. In many places, even basic digital payments or savings accounts are still out of reach. That’s why fintech is booming, and why I believe we need something that actually connects the old system with the transparency and global reach of crypto. Now let’s…. Enter Gluwa: The Bridge Enter Gluwa: The Bridge Gluwa is a crypto-finance startup with one big mission: to connect global money with people in emerging markets who need it most. Instead of relying on old banks and piles of paperwork, Gluwa uses blockchain, stablecoins, and digital wallets to make lending and borrowing fast, transparent, and accessible. Here’s how it works in real life… With Gluwa’s Creditcoin network, lenders from anywhere in the world can fund loans for small businesses in countries like Nigeria or Indonesia. Every loan gets recorded on a public blockchain, which means the borrower is building a real credit history, even if they don’t have a bank account. Think about it: someone with just a phone in Lagos can take out a loan, pay it back, and have proof of trustworthiness that any lender across the globe can see. That’s game-changing. What makes this even bigger is how Gluwa works hand-in-hand with regulators and banks. For example, they’ve partnered with Nigeria’s Central Bank to integrate their tech into the country’s official digital currency, the eNaira. This means millions of people could soon access loans, payments, and credit history directly through a government-backed digital system—all powered by Gluwa’s blockchain. eNaira And it’s not just governments. Everyday investors can also take part. Through Gluwa’s platform, someone in New York or Seoul can invest in loans for entrepreneurs in Africa or Asia. The system uses stablecoins pegged to local currencies, so borrowers don’t get hurt by crypto volatility. On the other side, lenders get full transparency on repayment histories. Everyone wins: investors, small businesses, and local economies. Gluwa is exactly what it says it is: a bridge. Gluwa is exactly what it says it is: a bridge. Gluwa is exactly what it says it is: a bridge. A bridge between crypto and banks, between rich and poor, between traditional finance and the new digital world. Imagine a farmer in a rural town finally having a credit score recognized worldwide. That’s the future Gluwa is building, and it could change how money works for billions. Why This Bridge Matters More Than Ever Why This Bridge Matters More Than Ever So why does Gluwa matter now? Gluwa Because the cracks in the old financial system are bigger than ever, and for the first time, we actually have the tech to fix them. After the 2020 pandemic, the demand for digital finance skyrocketed. People who never had a bank nearby are now moving money with just a smartphone. Mobile wallets and crypto adoption are growing fast, especially in places where traditional banking has always been out of reach. Instead of fighting crypto, banks are slowly starting to see it as an opportunity. According to Deloitte,  64% of banking customers would prefer their trusted bank to handle crypto and fiat in one place. Deloitte Deloitte 64% of banking customers On the tech side, blockchain is no longer an “experiment.” On the tech side, Networks can now handle thousands of transactions per second, stablecoins stay pegged to real currencies, and platforms like Microsoft Azure give global security and scale. Gluwa builds on all of this. For instance, their Nigerian stablecoin is pegged 1:1 to the naira, so when a small business in Lagos takes a loan, they’re not hit by wild crypto swings, meaning they get real value in naira. 1:1 At the end of the day, the timing couldn’t be better. Investors want new markets, small businesses need affordable loans, and almost everyone has access to a phone. Gluwa sits right in the middle, connecting both sides. It’s not just theory anymore; the world is ready for this bridge. The Big Picture: Who Wins, Who Loses? The Big Picture: Who Wins, Who Loses? Every time a new system comes in, some people win big while others get left behind. With Gluwa, the biggest winners are everyday users. Think about the shop owner in Lagos or the tailor in Nairobi who’s never had access to proper loans. Suddenly, they can save, borrow, and grow their business. That’s life-changing. And because small businesses are the backbone of most developing economies, the ripple effect is massive,  stronger families, stronger communities, stronger countries. It doesn’t stop there. Microfinance lenders, who usually struggle with high risks, now get better records and lower defaults. Nigerians abroad sending money home no longer have to pay crazy fees; they can invest or send funds directly through blockchain. Even crypto investors win, because platforms like Gluwa give their investments more credibility and scale. Traditional banks? They don’t have to lose. In fact, they could win big if they stop resisting and start adapting. Some banks already see this because crypto brings speed and innovation, and banks bring trust and infrastructure. Together, they’re stronger. That’s why some fintechs are even applying for official banking licenses. The future isn’t about choosing sides; it’s about merging the best of both worlds. Now for the losers, the ones who refuse to evolve. Now for the losers, Are money transfer companies charging 10% fees? They’ll lose customers to faster, cheaper blockchain transfers. Old-school banks that ignore crypto? They’ll watch clients walk away. Credit bureaus that hold people hostage with incomplete data? They could fade out as blockchain credit records take over. Gluwa already proves this because its system allows anyone with an approved track record to get loans from multiple lenders, not just one gatekeeper. Of course, challenges remain. Regulators worry about compliance and privacy, and some critics still see blockchain as risky. But in the bigger picture, competition is healthy. More players mean better rates, fairer services, and stronger economies. At the end of the day, it’s not crypto versus banks — it’s innovation versus stagnation. And history shows us one thing: Those who adapt win. Those who don’t… well, they get left behind! The Future Isn’t Either/Or The Future Isn’t Either/Or The future of money isn’t about picking crypto over banks or banks over crypto. It’s about blending both. And, that’s exactly what Gluwa is doing — connecting the naira to blockchain loans and opening the door for global investors to back local businesses in real time. The real winners are everyday people, from students, small merchants, and entrepreneurs, who are finally getting fair access to savings, credit, and payments. For me, that’s the point. Technology is finally serving people, not the other way around. Gluwa shows that banks and crypto don’t have to be rivals. Together, they can reshape finance for good. Gluwa

The is an opinion piece based on the author’s POV and does not necessarily reflect the views of HackerNoon.

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