Shield
Built for US exporters whose overseas buyers pay in USDT: the stablecoin arrives, the business gets same-day USD.
US business accounts for exporters and wholesalers: accept USDT from overseas buyers, settle same-day in USD.
- Who holds it
- A sponsor bank behind the brand — not the app you signed up with — Partner banks (Cross River Bank, Lead Bank) via licensed partners incl. Bridge (NMLS 2450917); FinCEN-registered MSB; card issued by First Internet Bank of Indiana via CapitalOS.
- The ledger
- Split between a program manager and the sponsor bank — the modular setup that broke in Synapse.
- If it fails
- Any claim runs through the sponsor bank, and only works if the two ledgers reconcile.
Derived from Shield’s regulation type and custody — a class of protection, not a guarantee. Limits and eligibility vary by scheme, balance and jurisdiction; confirm before you rely on it. What happens if a neobank shuts down →
The facts
| Category | hybrid · SMB & startups |
| HQ | Miami, US |
| Founded | 2022 |
| Custody | Custodial |
| Regulation type | Partner-bank model |
| License detail | Partner banks (Cross River Bank, Lead Bank) via licensed partners incl. Bridge (NMLS 2450917); FinCEN-registered MSB; card issued by First Internet Bank of Indiana via CapitalOS |
| Card | Visa · Business credit (pay-in-full) |
| Cashback | Up to 2% (new customers) |
| Stablecoins | Yes |
| KYC | Yes |
| Active regions | North America |
| Countries | United States |
| Founders | Emmanuel Udotong, Isaiah Udotong, Luis Carchi |
| Funding | $7M raised (Giant Ventures, a16z crypto CSX) |
Verified links: official site ↗ · terms ↗ · privacy ↗ · @shieldusdt ↗
Common questions about Shield
What is Shield?
Shield is a fiat-and-crypto neobank built for SMB & startups, headquartered in Miami, US and founded in 2022. Your money is held custodially, so Shield or its partner bank holds the balance and you hold a claim on it. It operates on a partner-bank model (Partner banks (Cross River Bank, Lead Bank) via licensed partners incl. Bridge (NMLS 2450917); FinCEN-registered MSB; card issued by First Internet Bank of Indiana via CapitalOS).
Does Shield have a card, and where can you use it?
It issues a Visa business credit (pay-in-full) card. It is available in North America.
Does Shield require KYC?
Yes. Shield requires identity verification (KYC) to open an account, as a partner-bank model.
What does Shield cost?
From the verified fields: cashback Up to 2% (new customers). Cashback and yield are "up to" figures that change constantly and often depend on a paid plan — confirm current terms with Shield before relying on them.
Head-to-head
Shield vs Meow · Shield vs Slash · Shield vs Flex · Shield vs Dolafy
Peers
Revolut · Cash App · Mogo · Venmo · Robinhood · Crypto.com
Shield appears in
Neobanks running on someone else’s banking license (86) · Neobanks that require identity verification (349) · Neobanks available in North America (129) · Neobanks for small businesses and startups (39) · Neobanks that issue a Visa card (188) · Neobanks in United States (68)
Figures compiled from public sources, for comparison only — not financial advice. "Up to" rates change constantly; always confirm with the issuer. Spotted an error? Suggest a fix.