Making Cross-Border Money Work Harder for Canadian SMEs

In an exclusive interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Jackee Wong, Fractional CMO at Keytom, explores how modern financial technology can help Canadian SMEs navigate the growing complexities of cross-border payments. Drawing from years of international experience across technology, cybersecurity, fintech, and PayFi, Jackee shares why payment speed, transparency, and predictability matter so much for businesses operating across markets.

Interview by Maheen Bari

Jackee Wong is a 3rd-generation Chinese Canadian, failed entrepreneur and tech growth executive who has spent 11+ years helping international brands grow across consumer internet, cybersecurity, Fintech and PayFi. He currently works out of Hong Kong as Fractional CMO at Keytom.

He started out as an advocate for cybersecurity and financial access before finding his way into growth, brand, content, communications and GTM. His work has since ranged from early-stage ventures to the fastest-growing PayFi unicorn, as well as a non-custodial trading and payment app with 100 million users.

---

You have worked across global technology, cybersecurity, PayFi, and consumer-internet brands. What brought you to Keytom, and what problem do you believe the platform can help solve for Canadians and businesses managing money across borders?

I’ve worked internationally for most of my career, so moving money across borders has always been part of my life. But a car accident made the issue much more personal.

I was hit by a car while crossing the road. During recovery, my medical expenses exceeded the fiat funds I had readily available. When I tried to pay with crypto, I ran into delays and friction exactly when speed and predictability mattered most.

That’s why Keytom’s focus on reducing friction around how people move and use money resonated with me. The team’s approach mattered too. They adapted interviews and onboarding around my rehabilitation and rest, making it easier to join while I continued recovering.

At Keytom, we bring traditional currencies and supported crypto into one app, with payment cards where available. For Canadians and businesses working internationally, the aim is to make receiving, converting and spending money simpler. My experience is why I care about making these products useful for people who live and earn across borders.

---

Traditional cross-border payments can include fixed fees, foreign-exchange costs, and delays that disproportionately affect freelancers, contractors, and SMEs making smaller transactions. Why do these costs matter so much for smaller businesses, and what should financial service providers do differently to better support them?

A fixed fee on a US$100,000 payment is easy to overlook. Take that same fee out of US$500, and you notice it. I sometimes work on hourly consulting agreements, with payments between $400 and $900. Traditional bank-transfer fees can take a real bite out of those amounts.

Smaller businesses often don’t have the same cash reserves as large enterprises. Many are founder-led, so when a payment costs more than expected, the founder may end up covering the gap personally.

That is why I think providers should design for predictability. A business should know what it will pay, what the recipient will receive, and when the money will arrive. I don’t think enough providers make those basics clear.

At Keytom, we focus on keeping fixed fees very low and pricing transparent. The total cost still depends on the payment method and any currency conversion, so customers need to see the whole picture.

The point is simple: founders should be able to price a payment before they send it.

Cash flow is often the difference between opportunity and stress for a growing business. How do delayed international payments affect day-to-day operations and working capital, and what practical difference can faster settlement make for SMEs operating across markets?

I’ve founded three businesses, and getting money in and out was consistently one of the biggest problems.

Startups need to spend money to make money, often with very little cash to spare. I had clients in Argentina who wanted to pay but struggled to get the money to me. In 2025, I had the reverse problem paying a contractor who had moved from the Middle East to Uzbekistan.

In both cases, the willingness to pay was there. Getting the payment through was the blocker.

That creates a working-capital gap. Contractors still need paying, work still needs funding, and the founder often has to bridge the difference. Inevitably, that slows growth.

Faster settlement can shorten the cash-conversion cycle, bringing forward the point when money comes back into the business. More predictable arrival times also make it easier to plan the next expense.

For Canadian SMEs, that means being better equipped to work with customers and suppliers in more countries. It can support growth beyond the U.S. market and reduce dependence on it.

---

Your own experience showed how difficult it can be to access funds quickly when circumstances change unexpectedly. Why is reliable, practical access to money so important for people who travel, work internationally, or operate across borders—and what should users consider when choosing a financial platform for that purpose?

I think access to your money should work 24/7. Unexpected payment blocks are bad enough. Not being able to resolve them is worse.

A few months ago, I was in Singapore on business when my bank stopped a credit card payment. I couldn’t challenge the block at the time, and it disrupted the trip. Thankfully, I had another way to pay.

That experience changed what I look for in a financial platform.

First, compliance. Keytom’s Canadian entity is registered as a Money Services Business with FINTRAC in Canada. And we use fast, automated identity checks as part of onboarding.

Then, usability. Fees should be clear. Settlement should be as fast as possible where supported. And users should know exactly which countries, currencies and payment methods are actually available to them.

I don’t think people should have to discover those limitations when they are already overseas and need to make a payment.

And one practical lesson from me: always keep a backup payment option. I was very glad I had one.

---

Keytom has recently introduced CAD business accounts for Canadian companies, enabling users to manage Canadian dollars alongside other supported currencies and digital assets on one platform. What opportunities does this create for Canadian businesses, and what final advice would you share with entrepreneurs looking to manage international payments with more confidence, speed, and control?

For a Canadian business, “global” still has to work locally. That is where CAD business accounts become useful. Companies can manage Canadian dollars alongside other supported currencies and digital assets in one place.

The bigger opportunity is choice. Better cross-border financial tools can make it more practical for Canadian SMEs to work with customers, contractors and suppliers beyond Canada and the U.S. Businesses should not have to depend on one or two markets simply because the payment infrastructure is easier.

When choosing a provider, I would focus on transparency, reliability and strong local payment capabilities. Don’t stop at the lowest advertised transfer fee. Check the FX rate, other charges, how long the payment takes, and whether the recipient can actually use the money locally.

By that same standard, I’d put stablecoin payments high on the list where they are legally supported and practical for both sides. Traditional fiat providers still have catching up to do on speed and cross-border usability.

A payment isn’t finished when it is sent. It’s finished when the other side can use it.

---

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Our platform is dedicated to fostering dialogue and sharing insights that inspire and empower small and medium-sized businesses across Canada.