Roundtable Launches Real-Time USDC Payment System for Professional Publishers with Coinbase Support
The new platform replaces the traditional ad‑buy/sell settlement cycle that can take weeks or months. By using a dedicated USDC liquidity pool and smart‑wallet network, Roundtable records every transaction on‑chain and settles revenue instantly in the stablecoin. Coinbase Prime provides the crypto wallet support and USDC payment rails that enable the instant settlement.
Roundtable’s model is built around end‑to‑end ad sales tracking and AI‑driven brokerage. The company claims that its Media Liquidity Pool finances ad buy/sell transactions at scale, while the smart‑wallet network automatically settles earned revenue as USDC. The platform also offers syndication, sales operations, distribution, monetization, audience engagement, data security, AI moderation, and IP restoration tools.
According to the company’s announcement, the move is intended to restore economic equity, data sovereignty, and IP control to a $200 billion media industry that has historically been marginalized by social platforms. James Heckman, founder and CEO of Roundtable, said the transition from traditional finance to DeFi represents “the next frontier, not just faster wires or tokenized assets, but fully transparent, real‑time economics for a $200 billion industry.”
Coinbase’s role is highlighted in a statement from John D’Agostino, Head of Strategy, Coinbase Institutional. He said, “Coinbase is thrilled to support Roundtable’s use of USDC and blockchain‑enabled payments to modernize media ad sales, empowering creators to finance their content production by dramatically reducing payment lags.” The partnership leverages Coinbase’s reputation as a trusted crypto platform for both consumers and institutions.
The launch follows Roundtable’s recent $30 million funding round, which was aimed at expanding Web3 innovation and integrating a Bitcoin liquidity pool. The company’s founders include Eyal Hertzog, inventor of DeFi technology, and James Heckman, a media technology veteran who has led digital strategy for News Corp and Yahoo.
Industry observers note that the instant settlement feature could reduce the risk of delayed payments that have plagued publishers for years. By recording transactions on‑chain, the system also provides immutable reporting, potentially improving transparency for advertisers and publishers alike.
The platform is currently live for nearly 200 publishers, with the first week of operation beginning on the day of the announcement. Roundtable plans to expand the network and add additional liquidity pools in the coming months. The company has not yet disclosed the impact on revenue or the specific terms of the liquidity arrangements.
In summary, Roundtable’s real‑time USDC payment infrastructure marks a significant shift in media ad settlement. The partnership with Coinbase provides the necessary wallet and payment rails, while the dedicated liquidity pool enables instant settlement. The platform’s launch could reshape how professional publishers receive ad revenue, offering faster, transparent, and on‑chain payments that align with the broader move toward DeFi solutions in the media sector.