Bank of Italy research suggests stablecoins aren't necessarily cheaper for remittances

A mystery-shopping experiment found that exchange fees, foreign exchange spreads and banking rails mean stablecoin remittances are often no cheaper than traditional transfer means.

• The Bank of Italy tested 200 USDC remittances across 10 international payment corridors and found total costs ranged from 0.3% to almost 9% of the amount sent.
• Blockchain transaction fees represented only a tiny fraction of overall costs, with exchange fees, foreign exchange spreads and local banking charges accounting for the bulk of expenses.
• Researchers conclude stablecoins solve the speed of moving value on-chain but have yet to eliminate the costly "last mile" between crypto and local fiat currencies.
• The Bank of Italy notes that stablecoins can reduce costs in specific corridors, while their always-on settlement and programmability remain meaningful advantages over legacy payment rails.

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The Definitive Stablecoin Landscape Series: Asia Pacific

As stablecoins move into regulated finance, APAC is becoming a key proving ground. This report maps the region’s rules, use cases, and RLUSD’s role.

Why it matters :

As stablecoins move into regulated finance, APAC is becoming a key proving ground. This report maps the region’s rules, use cases, and RLUSD’s role.

Payments firm OpenPayd targets year-end Nasdaq listing to fund U.S. expansion and acquisitions

Crypto job postings triple to over 1,200 in September, but applications fall

BlackRock offers a glimpse of how tokenization may change your investment portfolio

Disclaimer: This article is for information only and does not constitute investment advice. Digital assets involve substantial risk.