Tim DraperFounder and Managing Partne, Draper Associate · I back the ideas that look crazy first

BILLIONS lack access to US dollar banking 💵

25 Mar 2026 · 1 min

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A fintech startup plans to offer dollar banking to billions of unbanked people by chartering banks in special economic zones, starting with Prospera. The founder faces pushback: traditional banks now hold Bitcoin, so why would people need a new alternative?

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Imagine this, you're one of the billions of people around the world that lack access to quality US dollar banking. We are targeting the fastest growing market segments that are clamoring for banking options, accounts, wires, payments, everything that you'd normally expect. And we're giving them exactly that. We are chartering a series of banks in special economic zones around the world. We started in Prospera and we are on path to be the first bank in US history to be chartered by a Native American tribe.
Now, the existing banks are now allowed to hold Bitcoin. If they can do all that, isn't your business a little bit more marginalized?