Remittances funded by stablecoins continue to offer substantial savings compared to traditional money transfers, particularly in emerging markets, underscoring one of the leading use cases for digital dollars as payment activity grows.
According to a new third-quarter report from Borderless.xyz, a stablecoin-based payment network, sending a $200 remittance through stablecoin-funded payment systems costs on average 1%, or $2, compared with 6.36%, or $12,72, for traditional money transfers, according to World Bank data.
The price difference makes stablecoin-funded remittances roughly 84% cheaper, though the comparison uses Borderless's third-quarter 2026 prices and World Bank data for the same period in 2025.
The savings are also significant in emerging markets. In Sub-Saharan African countries, the cost of stablecoin-funded remittances is 2.9%, compared with 8.46% for traditional transfers. In Latin America, these figures are 1.25% and 5.64%, respectively.
According to the report, business payments made via stablecoins are also significantly cheaper. Transferring $10000 to the eurozone via stablecoins costs just $26 dollars using the cheapest provider, compared with $52 across all corridors with a mid-fee provider.
For comparison, a traditional international bank transfer would cost $135–$150 for the same amount, including the transfer fee and an assumed 1% currency exchange margin.
Stablecoin payouts arrive within minutes, but payout reliability can vary
Beyond the cost savings, the Borderless report notes that stablecoin payments can reach recipients' local bank accounts within minutes, depending on the payment network used.
In Brazil, payouts via the PIX network took an average of two minutes in the third quarter, while in Mexico's SPEI network the figure was three minutes. Colombia's PSE network also recorded an average settlement time of two minutes.
By comparison, traditional SWIFT transfers were typically processed the next business day, while the slowest 10% took three business days.
However, payment completion rates varied significantly. Mexico's SPEI network successfully completed 98.6% of payouts, followed by Brazil's PIX at 97.8%. Colombia's PSE network completed 79%, while Costa Rica's SINPE recorded a completion rate of just 73%.
The findings come amid continued growth in stablecoin transaction activity. Standard Chartered recently noted an increase in transaction volumes despite relatively steady growth in the overall stablecoin market capitalization this year. The bank expects the market to reach $2 trillion by 2030, two years later than previously projected.
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