Ether Exchange launches DEX to enable phone number-based crypto payments

Ether Exchange has launched DEX, a decentralized blockchain payment platform that introduces the ‘DEX Key’. This feature allows users to use phone numbers, including country and area codes, as unique identifiers for sending and receiving digital assets, replacing long and complex wallet addresses.

The ecosystem supports various assets, including Bitcoin (BTC), stablecoins such as USDT and USDC, and the BRT, a digital asset pegged to the Brazilian real. This development arrives amid a significant rise in stablecoin usage; TRM Labs reports that stablecoins accounted for approximately 30% of all on-chain crypto transactions in 2025, marking an 83% increase from the previous year.

The shift toward blockchain-based solutions is driven by the need for faster transfers and protection against inflation. This trend is particularly notable in regions with monetary instability. Furthermore, blockchain solutions offer a potential alternative to traditional international remittance costs, which the World Bank noted averaged 6.36% globally in the third quarter of 2025, significantly higher than the 3% sustainable development goal.