Augustus says dollar distribution is broken because legacy correspondent banks are closed 115 days a year, built for humans and can take two days to settle, while global fintechs and digital-asset firms need always-on, programmable clearing. Its $180 million Series B at a $1 billion valuation is funding expansion and an AI- and stablecoin-native bank core, and the company says it is already processing billions for customers such as Kraken, although its U.S. bank charter remains subject to regulatory approval.