Stablecoin Remittances Cost 84% Less Than Traditional Transfers, New Report Finds

A third quarter report says sending $200 through stablecoin rails costs a median of 1%, or $2, versus 6.36%, or $12.72, for traditional remittances based on World Bank data. That makes stablecoins about 84% cheaper, though the comparison pairs Borderless’s 2026 pricing with World Bank figures from the same period in 2025. The gap is wide in emerging markets too. Sub-Saharan Africa sees 2.9% against 8.46% for conventional transfers, and Latin America 1.25% against 5.64%.

Business Payments Show Big Savings

For a $10,000 transfer to the eurozone, stablecoin routes cost as little as $26 through the cheapest provider and $52 at the median provider. A traditional international bank wire for the same amount runs between $135 and $150, counting fees and an assumed 1% foreign exchange margin.

Settlement Speed and Payout Reliability

Stablecoin funded payments can reach local bank accounts within minutes. Payouts in Brazil through PIX settled in a median of two minutes, Mexico’s SPEI took three and Colombia’s PSE took two. Traditional SWIFT transfers usually settle the next business day, and the slowest 10% need three. Reliability differs, though. SPEI completed 98.6% of payouts and PIX 97.8%, while Colombia’s PSE managed 79% and Costa Rica’s SINPE only 73%.

Stablecoin Market Growth Outlook

Standard Chartered recently pointed to rising transaction volumes despite flat market capitalization this year. The bank now expects the stablecoin market to reach $2 trillion by 2030, two years later than previously forecast.