Stable Talks

May 7, 2025

Stable Talks: Episode #03 – Lucas Vargas (Nomad)

Bridging Brazilians to Global Finance: Regulation, Infrastructure, and Stablecoins

Lucas Vargas portrait
Lucas Vargas portrait
Lucas Vargas portrait

In this episode of Stable Talks, Caio Barbosa sits down with Lucas Vargas, CEO and Co-Founder of Nomad, to explore how one of Brazil's most innovative fintechs is creating a global financial ecosystem for Brazilian users.

The conversation delves into how Nomad is building a US-based platform that provides Brazilian users with easy access to global financial services, including US bank accounts, cards, and investment options. Lucas shares insights into the challenges and opportunities of operating across two regulated markets, Brazil and the US, and why regulation is central to building trust and scaling effectively.

They also discuss the role of stablecoins in enabling cross-border payments, how regulatory clarity can unlock fintech innovation, and the evolution of self-custodial accounts that put control back in the hands of the user.

🎧 Listen to the full episode below or read on for the main highlights of the conversation.

Highlights from the conversation

1. Building a Global Platform from Brazil

"Nomad started with a simple idea: give Brazilians access to global financial products in a regulated environment."
— Lucas Vargas

  • The vision behind Nomad’s creation and its focus on US-based accounts for Brazilian users

  • The challenges and opportunities of operating across two highly regulated environments: Brazil and the US

2. Regulation as a Key to Scaling

"Regulation wasn’t a barrier for us, it was a necessity to scale with credibility."
— Lucas Vargas

  • The strategic decision to get licensed early and the role of compliance in building trust

  • Why local regulation is critical for unlocking new business models in emerging markets

3. The Importance of Stablecoins in Cross-Border Payments

"Stablecoins represent the future of financial infrastructure, bridging the gap between fiat and digital currencies."
— Lucas Vargas

  • How stablecoins are solving the friction in cross-border payments

  • The role of programmable money in reducing transaction costs and delays

4. Self-Custodial Banking: Empowering Users

"Self-custodial banking gives users full control of their assets, without intermediaries."
— Lucas Vargas

  • The rise of self-custody and its implications for global financial inclusion

  • How Nomad is integrating stablecoins into a broader financial ecosystem

5. Looking Ahead: The Future of Financial Platforms

"The next generation of financial platforms will be built on top of stablecoins, providing innovative services that go beyond payments."
— Lucas Vargas

  • The future of stablecoin-native financial platforms, including neobanks and credit solutions

  • The potential for AI to enhance financial services and user experience

Stablecoins: A New Paradigm in Global Finance

This episode highlights how stablecoins are becoming not just a better settlement layer, but a key part of global financial infrastructure. As Nomad scales to connect Brazilians with global financial services, regulation, programmability, and self-custodial banking are driving a new era of financial empowerment.

Lucas’s journey underscores the importance of regulation and licensing as a foundation for building global fintech platforms in today’s complex landscape.

"If you're building fintech, operating in regulated markets, or thinking about scaling globally, understanding stablecoins and regulatory clarity is essential. This is the future of global finance."
— Lucas Vargas (Nomad)

🔗 Caio Barbosa on LinkedIn
🔗 Lucas Vargas on LinkedIn

📩 Stay up to date with what Lumx is developing.
Sign up to receive them by email.

Team Lumx
Team Lumx

talk to our team

Ready to transform your business with stablecoins?

Discover how our infrastructure can seamlessly integrate stablecoins into your financial operations quickly, securely, and efficiently.

By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, to all applicable laws and regulations, and agree that you are responsible for compliance with any and all applicable local laws.

Lumx SA (Lumx) is a technology and smart contract development company. Lumx is not a broker-dealer or financial institution and does not engage any conduct or transactions requiring such registration. All financial products are offered by and through financial institutions directly. Lumx does not make any recommendation for the purchase or sale of digital assets. Our products and services are offered in limited jurisdictions so please contact our sales team for further information and refer to our Terms of Services.

© 2025 Lumx SA. All rights reserved.

By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, to all applicable laws and regulations, and agree that you are responsible for compliance with any and all applicable local laws.

Lumx SA (Lumx) is a technology and smart contract development company. Lumx is not a broker-dealer or financial institution and does not engage any conduct or transactions requiring such registration. All financial products are offered by and through financial institutions directly. Lumx does not make any recommendation for the purchase or sale of digital assets. Our products and services are offered in limited jurisdictions so please contact our sales team for further information and refer to our Terms of Services.

© 2025 Lumx SA. All rights reserved.

By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, to all applicable laws and regulations, and agree that you are responsible for compliance with any and all applicable local laws.

Lumx SA (Lumx) is a technology and smart contract development company. Lumx is not a broker-dealer or financial institution and does not engage any conduct or transactions requiring such registration. All financial products are offered by and through financial institutions directly. Lumx does not make any recommendation for the purchase or sale of digital assets. Our products and services are offered in limited jurisdictions so please contact our sales team for further information and refer to our Terms of Services.

© 2025 Lumx SA. All rights reserved.