Stablecoin Cross-Border Transfers Cost 84% Less Than Traditional Remittances

Payment network published its Q3 2026 report comparing the cost and speed of stablecoin-based cross-border transfers with traditional banking channels. According to the study, the average fee for a $200 transfer using stablecoins was 1%, or $2. By comparison, traditional remittance fees reached 6.36%, or $12.72, according to World Bank data. This represents savings of about 84%.

The cost difference was also substantial in emerging markets. In Sub-Saharan Africa, stablecoin-based remittance fees were 2.9%, compared with 8.46% for traditional transfers. In Latin America, the respective rates were 1.25% and 5.64%.

Stablecoins also significantly reduced costs for cross-border B2B payments. According to, sending $10,000 to the eurozone cost $26 through the lowest-cost provider, while the average cost across providers and all surveyed corridors was $52. By comparison, a traditional international bank transfer of the same amount costs between $135 and $150, including transfer fees and an assumed 1% foreign-exchange margin.

The study also identified significant differences in settlement speeds. Average times for funds to reach local bank accounts through selected payment networks were:

• Brazil (PIX): 2 minutes;

• Mexico (SPEI): 3 minutes;

• Colombia (PSE): 2 minutes.

Traditional international SWIFT transfers typically settled on the next business day. The slowest 10% of transactions took 3 business days.

However, faster settlement didn’t always translate into comparable payment reliability. Mexico’s SPEI recorded the highest payout completion rate at 98.6%. Brazil’s PIX followed at 97.8%, while Colombia’s PSE and Costa Rica’s SINPE recorded completion rates of 79% and 73%, respectively.

The findings came amid growing transaction activity in the stablecoin market. According to Visa, adjusted stablecoin transaction volume reached $1.79 trillion in June 2026.