logo
    • Buy Crypto
    • Markets
    • Futures
    • Spot
    • Earn
    • Affiliates & AI
    • More
    1. WEEX
    2. Crypto News
    3. Stablecoin remittances hit 9% in Bank of Italy test

    Stablecoin remittances hit 9% in Bank of Italy test

    By: rootdata|2026/07/31 12:35:52
    0
    Share
    copy
    Prefer us on GooglePrefer us on Google
    FASTFAST
    00.00%--
    BEATBEAT
    00.00%--
    BEATBEAT
    COSTCOST
    00.00%--
     

    Banca d'Italia has released a July 2026 study finding that stablecoin remittances do not consistently beat traditional transfer services on cost or speed.

    Summary

    • Ten USDC corridors produced total remittance costs ranging from 0.30% to nearly 9%, researchers found.
    • Under 20 minutes was achievable where instant payment systems supported both fiat conversion endpoints efficiently.
    • Three corridors beat Wise, while four cost more, showing stablecoin savings remained highly corridor-specific overall.

    Researchers executed real transfers of 200 USDC across ten corridors linking Italy with Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and Japan.

    The mystery-shopping study recorded total costs from 0.30% to almost 9%. The blockchain leg averaged only 0.4%, while exchange purchases, funding methods, withdrawals and foreign-exchange conversion produced most of the expense. The authors said stablecoins showed "no systematic cost advantage" over traditional channels.

    Stablecoin remittance costs varied sharply by corridor

    The Italy-to-Argentina transfer was the cheapest at 0.30%, while Argentina-to-Italy cost 8.96%. The study warned that the low outbound Argentina result partly reflected differences between the country's official and market exchange rates, rather than blockchain efficiency alone.

    Brazil-to-Italy cost 2.21%, compared with 2.70% in the opposite direction. South Africa-to-Italy cost 5.44%, while Italy-to-South Africa reached 4.58%. The two UAE routes were among the most expensive at 7.20% and 8.95%, partly because card funding and withdrawal charges increased the total.

    USDC beat Wise in only three comparable routes

    Banca d'Italia compared its transactions with Wise simulations for the same $200 amount. USDC was cheaper in three routes: Italy to Argentina, Italy to South Africa and Brazil to Italy. It was more expensive in four, including both UAE routes and Italy to Brazil.

    The researchers cautioned that the transfers and Wise simulations occurred on different dates. They also described the World Bank comparison as an indicative benchmark rather than a like-for-like test. The paper covers one stablecoin and a limited number of transactions, so its findings "cannot be readily generalized" to every provider or corridor.

    Fast domestic payments determined transfer speed

    The onchain portion took less than 15 minutes in seven of eight directly comparable corridors. However, complete settlement depended on the banking systems used to fund exchanges and withdraw local currency.

    Transfers involving Italy's TIPS, Brazil's Pix and Argentina's Transferencias 3.0 finished in under 20 minutes. South African routes took one or two business days because standard bank transfers slowed the fiat endpoints. The study therefore found that stablecoin rails and domestic instant-payment systems worked as complements, not substitutes.

    Japan presented a separate problem. The Japan-to-Italy transfer cost 1.6%, but regulatory limits required an unhosted wallet and fragmented transactions, making the process unsuitable for a direct timing comparison. The reverse route cost 1.3% without completing the final off-ramp.

    -- Price

    --

    Better on-ramps may matter more than cheaper blockchains

    The findings support Banca d'Italia Governor Fabio Panetta's May assessment that stablecoins may work in selected corridors but do not provide a universal answer to expensive remittances. He argued that regulators should improve domestic payment infrastructure and connect fast-payment systems across borders.

    A March 2026 BIS paper reached a related conclusion, identifying weak interoperability, fragmented standards and institutional differences as the main barriers to cheaper cross-border payments. That suggests blockchain settlement alone cannot remove compliance, banking and local-currency bottlenecks.

    Industry deployments continue to test the other side of the argument. As crypto.news reported, Borderless.xyz found competitive stablecoin pricing across 260 business-payment corridors during the second quarter. In related coverage, a Hyundai trial moved $20,000 between the U.S. and Mexico in about seven minutes, while SBI Remit partnered with Fasset to develop stablecoin remittance infrastructure.

    Those cases do not directly contradict the central-bank experiment. They involve different transfer sizes, business models and endpoints. The next step is broader testing across more tokens, providers, dates and transaction amounts, with full disclosure of exchange spreads, withdrawal costs and local payout times.

    This content is provided for general informational purposes only and doesn't constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Any events, rewards, online promotions, or related information mentioned herein should not be considered a recommendation, solicitation, or invitation to purchase, sell, trade, or otherwise deal in any crypto assets. Crypto assets are highly volatile and may result in loss. The availability of WEEX services, products, and related events may vary by region. You are responsible for ensuring that your participation is in accordance with applicable local laws and regulations.

    You may also like

    Bitget UEX Daily Report | Berkshire Ends Net Selling Cycle, Cash Heavy on Google; No Selling Pressure After First Unlock, SpaceX (SPCX.US) Soars for Second Consecutive Trading Day (August 10, 2026)

    Bitget UEX Daily Report | Berkshire Ends Net Selling Cycle, Cash Heavy on Google; No Selling Pressure After First Unlock, SpaceX (SPCX.US) Soars for Second Consecutive Trading Day (August 10, 2026)

    CLARITY Act: 'Not a Deadlock but a Time to Buy' ... Esper Says It's Necessary for U.S. Financial Security

    CLARITY Act: 'Not a Deadlock but a Time to Buy' ... Esper Says It's Necessary for U.S. Financial Security

    Carnivorous Bacteria in the Gulf: Louisiana Reports Five Deaths and Urges Caution

    Carnivorous Bacteria in the Gulf: Louisiana Reports Five Deaths and Urges Caution

    Louisiana is facing an unusual increase in infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus, with nine cases and five deaths reported this year. The heat and climate change are expanding this deadly bacteria northward, and authorities are urging caution for swimmers.
    Wintermute Obtains Broker-Dealer Qualification from SEC and FINRA, Expanding into the U.S. Securities Market

    Wintermute Obtains Broker-Dealer Qualification from SEC and FINRA, Expanding into the U.S. Securities Market

    Oil Industry Profits: The Impact of Geopolitics on the Giants' Cash Flow

    Oil Industry Profits: The Impact of Geopolitics on the Giants' Cash Flow

    Financing Weekly Report | Mastercard Acquires Stablecoin Infrastructure Company BVNK; Yellow Card Completes $40 Million Strategic Financing with Participation from Standard Chartered and Sony

    Financing Weekly Report | Mastercard Acquires Stablecoin Infrastructure Company BVNK; Yellow Card Completes $40 Million Strategic Financing with Participation from Standard Chartered and Sony

    Can Reinsurance Become an On-Chain Revenue Source? Alea Research Highlights Re's RWA-DeFi Integration Model

    Can Reinsurance Become an On-Chain Revenue Source? Alea Research Highlights Re's RWA-DeFi Integration Model

    The attempt to transplant reinsurance as a real-world asset (RWA) onto the blockchain is emerging as a new revenue source in the DeFi market. Alea Research recently analyzed that the Re protocol has established a structure that connects stablecoin liquidity with regulated reinsurance collateral, pro...
    U.S. Taxpayers' Cryptocurrency Reporting Stays Between 32% and 56%: Study

    U.S. Taxpayers' Cryptocurrency Reporting Stays Between 32% and 56%: Study

    Astros and Wallus Release Open Standard for Verifiable Trading Data WVTS

    Astros and Wallus Release Open Standard for Verifiable Trading Data WVTS

    An open standard for trading data necessary for the spread of AI agent-based trading has been released. Astros, the representative decentralized exchange for perpetual futures in the Sui ecosystem, announced the unveiling of the 'Wallus Verifiable Trading Data Standard (WVTS)'.
    NYSE Develops On-Chain Payment Platform for Tokenized Securities

    NYSE Develops On-Chain Payment Platform for Tokenized Securities

    5 Charts to Understand Crypto Payment Cards: Stablecoins Transition from Blockchain to Real-World Spending

    5 Charts to Understand Crypto Payment Cards: Stablecoins Transition from Blockchain to Real-World Spending

    Ethereum Dominates RWA, While Solana Gains More Space in Trading

    Ethereum Dominates RWA, While Solana Gains More Space in Trading

    Ethereum maintains its leading position in the global market for Real World Asset (RWA) tokenization, while Solana emerges as a major alternative network in the spot trading of these assets.
    Wall Street Conspiracy Theory: Did Waller Intentionally Raise Long-Term U.S. Treasury Yields?

    Wall Street Conspiracy Theory: Did Waller Intentionally Raise Long-Term U.S. Treasury Yields?

    Vitalik Buterin Supports Signal's Phone Number Concealment Feature

    Vitalik Buterin Supports Signal's Phone Number Concealment Feature

    Investigation into Zhou, known as 'Bobby', linked to $10 billion WLFI purchase

    Investigation into Zhou, known as 'Bobby', linked to $10 billion WLFI purchase

    Guren “Bobby” Zhou, identified as the entrepreneur behind Aqua 1, which purchased $100 million worth of WLFI tokens, is still under investigation in a money laundering case in the UK.
    Cryptocurrency in the Second Week of August | Financial Services Agency Standardizes Cyber Attack Reporting Format

    Cryptocurrency in the Second Week of August | Financial Services Agency Standardizes Cyber Attack Reporting Format

    Streaming Platforms: How to Use Your Dollars to Pay Less and Avoid Excessive Taxes

    Streaming Platforms: How to Use Your Dollars to Pay Less and Avoid Excessive Taxes

    Reviewing subscriptions, eliminating duplicate services, and choosing the best way to settle accounts can reduce monthly household expenses.
    Trump and Islamophobia: The Chorus That No Longer Mobilizes Votes

    Trump and Islamophobia: The Chorus That No Longer Mobilizes Votes

    President Trump has maintained his hostile rhetoric and policies towards Muslims, but Islamophobia no longer serves as a political weapon. Muslim voters are divided, Democrats have changed their language, and relations with Arab governments complicate the narrative.
    Situational Awareness Bets US$ 400 Million on Chips After Losing Half of Its Fund

    Situational Awareness Bets US$ 400 Million on Chips After Losing Half of Its Fund

    China Runs Out of Chinese Data to Train AI: The New Wall Is Not Chips

    China Runs Out of Chinese Data to Train AI: The New Wall Is Not Chips

    China faces a new bottleneck in the AI race: the shortage of training data in Chinese. While chips dominate the debate, experts warn that the 1.3% of web content in Chinese could hinder the development of AI models in the country.
    XRP: ETFs Continue to Rise, but the Market Shows Signs of Fragility

    XRP: ETFs Continue to Rise, but the Market Shows Signs of Fragility

    World Liberty received $100 million from businessman investigated for money laundering: NYT

    World Liberty received $100 million from businessman investigated for money laundering: NYT

    Amazon Plans Power Plant That Could Be the Largest Polluter in the U.S.

    Amazon Plans Power Plant That Could Be the Largest Polluter in the U.S.

    XRP Ledger retires 5 amendments, users unaffected

    XRP Ledger retires 5 amendments, users unaffected

    Michael Saylor reveals how ChatGPT helped Strategy unlock $15 billion for its Bitcoin machine

    Michael Saylor reveals how ChatGPT helped Strategy unlock $15 billion for its Bitcoin machine

    Strategy used AI to design preferred stocks like STRC, raising about $10.5 billion through one instrument and roughly $15 billion overall.
    ADA Airdrop Guide: How to Claim 50,000 USDT Rewards on WEEX

    ADA Airdrop Guide: How to Claim 50,000 USDT Rewards on WEEX

    Join the WEEX ADA Airdrop and learn how to complete deposit, spot trading, referral, and futures tasks to share 50,000 USDT rewards.

    Mario, Pikachu, and Naruto at the Service of the White House: Tokyo Says Stop

    Mario, Pikachu, and Naruto at the Service of the White House: Tokyo Says Stop

    Tokyo criticizes the Trump administration for using Pokémon, Mario, and Naruto without permission in political and military videos.
    Wall Street put $7B into tokenized funds, but under 1% is actually being used in DeFi

    Wall Street put $7B into tokenized funds, but under 1% is actually being used in DeFi

    Nearly $4 billion in tokenized assets now sits inside DeFi, supporting lending, collateral, liquidity, and yield.
    Andrés Neumeyer: "The independence of the BCRA could be the most important anti-inflationary policy of the last 30 years"

    Andrés Neumeyer: "The independence of the BCRA could be the most important anti-inflationary policy of the last 30 years"

    The economist and former Deputy General Manager of Economic Research at the Central Bank (BCRA) argues that the reform of the Organic Charter promoted by President Javier Milei could be key to consolidating the reduction of inflation. He also believes that moderating the economic program would not n...
    AI Security Testing Frequently Crosses Boundaries, Evaluation Environments Become New Risk Points

    AI Security Testing Frequently Crosses Boundaries, Evaluation Environments Become New Risk Points

    Bitget UEX Daily Report | Berkshire Ends Net Selling Cycle, Cash Heavy on Google; No Selling Pressure After First Unlock, SpaceX (SPCX.US) Soars for Second Consecutive Trading Day (August 10, 2026)

    CLARITY Act: 'Not a Deadlock but a Time to Buy' ... Esper Says It's Necessary for U.S. Financial Security

    Carnivorous Bacteria in the Gulf: Louisiana Reports Five Deaths and Urges Caution

    Louisiana is facing an unusual increase in infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus, with nine cases and five deaths reported this year. The heat and climate change are expanding this deadly bacteria northward, and authorities are urging caution for swimmers.

    Wintermute Obtains Broker-Dealer Qualification from SEC and FINRA, Expanding into the U.S. Securities Market

    Oil Industry Profits: The Impact of Geopolitics on the Giants' Cash Flow

    Financing Weekly Report | Mastercard Acquires Stablecoin Infrastructure Company BVNK; Yellow Card Completes $40 Million Strategic Financing with Participation from Standard Chartered and Sony

    ...
    Exclusive new user rewards
    Sign up to get 10 USDT
    Exclusive new user rewardsSign up

    Contents

    Stablecoin remittance costs varied sharply by corridor
    USDC beat Wise in only three comparable routes
    Fast domestic payments determined transfer speed
    FAST
    Better on-ramps may matter more than cheaper blockchains

    Latest articles

    2026/08/09

    Cryptocurrency Transfers in Brazil: Transactions Over $10,000 May Take Up to 24 Hours for Verification

    Cryptocurrency transfers in Brazil will fall under new rules from the Central Bank of Brazil: some large transactions over $10,000 may be delayed for up to 24 hours for additional verification if the funds are sent to foreign platforms or self-custody wallets. Key facts include temporary verificatio...
    FASTFAST
    00.00%--
    SENTSENT
    00.00%--
    NOWNOW
    00.00%--
    TAKETAKE
    00.00%--
    2026/08/08

    Stablecoin: 300M users, apps like Rizon bring dollar services to 122 countries

    Retail cryptocurrency trading has cooled off, but the dollar-pegged tokens underlying it are having their best year yet.
    BRIANBRIAN
    00.00%--
    FASTFAST
    00.00%--
    NOWNOW
    00.00%--
    BASEDBASED
    00.00%--
    2026/08/07

    Hotcoin Research|The AI Revolution Continues: Why Is the AI Stock Market Starting to Deflate?

    INDEXINDEX
    00.00%--
    FASTFAST
    00.00%--
    HBMHBM
    00.00%--
    XYZXYZ
    00.00%--
    2026/08/07

    BNB Chain Stablecoin Holders: Surpassing Tron with 79.3 Million

    SPOTSPOT
    00.00%--
    FASTFAST
    00.00%--
    NOWNOW
    00.00%--
    REALREAL
    00.00%--
    2026/08/05

    WEEX Brings AI Trading Off the Screen and Into the Hands of Global Users

    From Miami to Milan, and from Paris to the Netherlands, WEEX's AI Trading emerged as the standout on-site activation across five major industry events, giving hundreds of users their first hands-on encounter with AI-driven trading through a risk-free simulated environment. The rollout marks a significant step in WEEX's broader strategy to make AI-powered trading tools accessible, intuitive, and engaging for a global audience — both online and offline.

    FASTFAST
    00.00%--
    SPOTSPOT
    00.00%--
    SPACESPACE
    00.00%--
    REALREAL
    00.00%--
    More

    Latest coin listings on WEEX

    logoCommunity
    iconiconiconiconiconiconicon
    Customer Support:@weikecs
    Business Cooperation:@weikecs
    Quant Trading & MM:bd@weex.com
    VIP Program:support@weex.com
    • About Us
    • Announcement Center
    • Media Kit
    • WEEX Community
    • WXT Zone
    • Announcement
    • Legal Statement
    • Risk Disclosure
    • Terms and Policies
    • Privacy Policy
    • Whistleblower Notice
    • AML/CTF Policy
    • Law Enforcement
    • User Guide
    • Product Launches
    • Crypto News
    • Product Launches
    • Crypto Wiki
    • Learn
    • Q&A
    • Spot
    • Futures
    • Glossary
    • VIP Program
    • Download
    • Affiliate
    • Protection Fund
    • Proof of Reserves
    • Sitemap
    • ETFs
    • Crypto Prices
    • Price Predictions
    • WXT Price
    • BTC Price
    • ETH Price
    • DOGE Price
    • How to Buy Crypto
    • How to Buy WXT
    • How to Buy BTC
    • How to Buy ETH
    • How to Buy DOGE
    • Help Center
    • Fee Schedule
    • Trading Rules
    • WEEX Academy
    • Contact Verifier
    • Submit Feedback
    • About Us
    • Announcement Center
    • Media Kit
    • WEEX Community
    • WXT Zone
    • Announcement
    • Help Center
    • Fee Schedule
    • Trading Rules
    • WEEX Academy
    • Contact Verifier
    • Submit Feedback
    • Customer Support Bot
    • VIP Services
    • Legal Statement
    • Risk Disclosure
    • Terms and Policies
    • Privacy Policy
    • Whistleblower Notice
    • AML/CTF Policy
    • Law Enforcement
    • Proof of Reserves
    • Invite Friends
    • OTC
    • Download
    • Affiliate
    • VIP Program
    • API
    • Broker
    • Listing Application
    • Affiliate T&C
    • Sitemap
    • Futures
    • Spot
    • Copy Trade
    • Markets
    • WEEX Store
    • User Guide
    • Product Launches
    • Crypto News
    • Product Launches
    • Crypto Wiki
    • Learn
    • Q&A
    • Spot
    • Futures
    • Glossary
    • VIP Program
    • Download
    • Affiliate
    • Protection Fund
    • Proof of Reserves
    • Sitemap
    • ETFs
    • Crypto Prices
    • Price Predictions
    • WXT Price
    • BTC Price
    • ETH Price
    • DOGE Price
    • How to Buy Crypto
    • How to Buy WXT
    • How to Buy BTC
    • How to Buy ETH
    • How to Buy DOGE
    • About Us
    • Announcement Center
    • Media Kit
    • WEEX Community
    • WXT Zone
    • Announcement
    • Help Center
    • Fee Schedule
    • Trading Rules
    • WEEX Academy
    • Contact Verifier
    • Submit Feedback
    • Legal Statement
    • Risk Disclosure
    • Terms and Policies
    • Privacy Policy
    • Whistleblower Notice
    • AML/CTF Policy
    • Law Enforcement
    • Customer Support Bot
    • VIP Services
    • Futures
    • Spot
    • Copy Trade
    • Markets
    • WEEX Store
    • Proof of Reserves
    • Invite Friends
    • OTC
    • Download
    • Affiliate
    • VIP Program
    • API
    • Broker
    • Listing Application
    • Affiliate T&C
    • Sitemap
    • User Guide
    • Product Launches
    • Crypto News
    • Product Launches
    • Crypto Wiki
    • Learn
    • Q&A
    • Spot
    • Futures
    • Glossary
    • VIP Program
    • Download
    • Affiliate
    • Protection Fund
    • Proof of Reserves
    • Sitemap
    • ETFs
    • Crypto Prices
    • Price Predictions
    • WXT Price
    • BTC Price
    • ETH Price
    • DOGE Price
    • How to Buy Crypto
    • How to Buy WXT
    • How to Buy BTC
    • How to Buy ETH
    • How to Buy DOGE

    Where new wealth is made

    Download app

    Sign Up
    h5 logo
    Download