WeChange
A non-custodial crypto on and off ramp where users always keep control of their funds.
- Industry
- FinTech · Web3 · Crypto exchange
- What we did
- Web & App Development, System Integration & Cloud, Payment Infrastructure, Security Architecture
- Live site
- wechange.com
Overview
WeChange is a non-custodial crypto on and off ramp platform that enables users to seamlessly convert between fiat currencies (EUR, USD, GBP) and over 400+ digital assets. The platform is designed around a simple principle: users should always remain in control of their funds, with no centralized hot wallet standing between them and their crypto.
Stargazer partnered with WeChange to architect, design, and build a secure, regulation-compliant exchange platform from the ground up — one that could deliver institutional-grade reliability while maintaining the simplicity and speed that everyday users expect.
The challenge
WeChange needed to build a platform that could handle the complexity of real-time crypto-to-fiat and fiat-to-crypto conversions while remaining compliant with evolving EU regulations, including MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) licensing requirements.
The platform had to support instant settlement for verified users, meaning both fiat and crypto transfers needed to resolve in near-real-time. This required tight integration with banking infrastructure, blockchain networks, and third-party liquidity providers.
WeChange needed to serve a broad European audience, many of whom had limited experience with Web3. The interface had to abstract away wallet connections, KYC workflows, and transaction routing — making the process feel as simple as a standard bank transfer.
Off-the-shelf exchange solutions could not provide the security, regulatory compliance, or user experience control that WeChange required. A custom-built platform was the only viable path.
The solution
We designed a layered platform architecture that cleanly separates user-facing interfaces, business logic, compliance workflows, and blockchain interactions. This separation ensures that each layer can evolve independently — critical in a fast-changing regulatory environment.
The frontend was built with clarity and speed as primary objectives. The transaction flow was distilled to three steps: verify identity once, select conversion direction and amount, and receive funds.
On the backend, modular services manage KYC/AML verification, transaction orchestration, rate calculation, and integrations with Fireblocks for institutional-grade security and Bridge (a Stripe company) for fiat payment processing. The non-custodial architecture routes funds directly between users' wallets and bank accounts.
A dedicated instant settlement system was engineered for verified users, enabling near-real-time transfers in both directions.
Engineering notes
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01
Non-custodial transaction architecture
Building a non-custodial exchange required designing transaction flows where the platform orchestrates but never holds user funds. This involved direct wallet-to-wallet and bank-to-wallet routing with cryptographic verification at every step.
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02
Instant settlement across fiat and crypto
Achieving near-real-time settlement required coordinating banking APIs, blockchain networks, and liquidity providers. Custom transaction orchestration handles confirmation timing, retries, and status reconciliation across these disparate systems.
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03
EU regulatory compliance and KYC/AML integration
Built to meet EU regulatory standards including MiCA. KYC and AML verification are first-class system components, ensuring compliance is seamless for users while meeting institutional audit requirements.
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04
Multi-asset support at scale
Supporting 400+ cryptocurrency assets required a flexible asset management system handling diverse blockchain protocols, varying confirmation times, and dynamic rate calculations. New assets can be added without core code changes.
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05
Security without compromising usability
Integrating institutional-grade Fireblocks security while keeping a consumer-friendly UX required careful abstraction. Complex security operations run transparently — users experience a simple, fast interface.
Outcome
The result is a production-ready, fully compliant crypto on and off ramp platform that processes real-time conversions between fiat and 400+ digital assets with institutional-grade security.
The platform serves the European market with full regulatory compliance, instant settlement capabilities for verified users, and a clean interface that makes crypto accessible beyond a purely technical audience.