Matías Reyes, VelaFi’s Country Manager for Argentina and Brazil, details how the platform tackles LATAM’s shifting regulatory challenges through modular infrastructure and programmable APIs. He explains the critical importance of operational robustness for growing fintechs, the obstacles banks face in adopting new technologies, key use cases in logistics and foreign trade, and VelaFi’s pragmatic approach to AI and embedded finance, prioritizing security over trends.
Interview – Matías Reyes, Country Manager for Argentina and Brazil, VelaFi
VelaFi describes itself as “infrastructure designed for regulatory change.” What essential capabilities must it include?
In LATAM, regulatory environments change quickly, not only between countries but within the same country. Infrastructure must be adaptable by design. At VelaFi we prioritize modularity, real-time compliance configuration and rapid localization capability. This entails specific KYC/AML protocols, integration with local financial institutions and full transaction traceability. The key is not just technology, but responsiveness backed by legal and operational intelligence for the region.
LATAM is accelerating the adoption of API-based payment infrastructure. How does this impact VelaFi’s cross-border solutions?
The development of API infrastructure is transforming financial services in LATAM. We designed our platform with this logic: from payments to reconciliation, everything is accessible through modular, programmable APIs. This enables real-time payments that can be integrated into any platform, facilitating mass financial access (close to 100% in Argentina/Brazil). We apply these principles to international transactions: programmable, transparent and compliant with local regulations.
Fintechs in LATAM are growing ~25% annually. How critical is platform robustness when integrating payments, treasury and compliance?
It is absolutely critical. Companies operate across fragmented systems and volatile economies. Robust infrastructure prevents processes such as reconciliation or FX management from collapsing as they scale. That is why VelaFi consolidates these flows into a single environment: it simplifies operations without sacrificing regulatory clarity. For businesses with multi-currency payments, having a unified platform makes the difference between scaling efficiently and stagnating.
What obstacles do banks and companies face when adopting modular omnichannel financial stacks?
Many institutions still rely on legacy systems, making API integrations technically complex. But equally crucial is the change in mindset: adopting external infrastructure means modifying internal workflows and policies. At VelaFi we address this with modular implementation, guided onboarding and specialized local support, whether for treasury teams in Santiago or banks in Bogotá. Change management is as important as the technology.
VelaFi serves logistics, import/export and global services. Which use cases benefit most from its unified infrastructure?
Sectors with high-volume cross-border operations gain the greatest advantages. Exporters, global service providers and logistics companies in LATAM deal with multiple currencies, complex FX rules and specific tax obligations. Reconciling USD, EUR and local currencies in markets such as Colombia or Argentina becomes simpler when treasury, compliance and settlement are connected in a single infrastructure with built-in regulatory logic.
With the rise of AI and embedded finance, which integrations should VelaFi prioritize?
We focus on what our clients need to operate with confidence: AI integration where it generates real impact (risk detection, real-time transaction monitoring). LATAM presents unique complexities where AI speeds up critical decisions. For embedded finance, we prioritize flexible APIs that allow our capabilities to be integrated into existing platforms without compromising compliance. We are developing additional tools, but with prudence: in treasury operations, accuracy and trust come before speed.
