For 6+ years, I worked as a freelancer in Pakistan. During that time, $2,000 of my earnings were frozen on Payoneer and my account was frozen indefinitely. I sent multiple emails and waited for months but still got the same generic response from Payoneer. I still haven’t received that money. That experience made me realize something important: the issue isn’t just Pakistan's high risk geography. It’s how these accounts are built. Most “virtual accounts” or wallets used by freelancers aren’t real bank accounts in your own name. Your balance actually sits inside a large pooled account managed by the fintech. On the app, it looks like your own account. In reality, you’re holding a balance on fintech's the internal ledger. When something triggers a review — even if it’s unrelated to you — every user under the pooled account can get restricted while everything is investigated. And since you don’t have a direct banking relationship, you’re dependent on the platform to resolve it. We’re building Nostro differently. With Nostro, each customer gets an individual account that exists directly on the bank’s ledger. Your money is held at the bank itself, not just reflected inside an app database. If another user violates terms, that doesn’t automatically put your funds at risk. For freelancers working on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Deel, stability matters. You worked for that money. It shouldn’t disappear because of someone else’s activity or because your account is just a sub-balance in a larger pool. We’re starting with digital workers in Pakistan who want something more secure and predictable when receiving international payments. If you’re a freelancer, I’d genuinely like to know: have you ever worried about your account being frozen? What’s been your biggest challenge when getting paid from abroad?

Nostro - Beta Launch

Beta access for Pakistan's Digital Workers!

Beta access for Pakistan's Digital Workers!