Stablecoin Remittances Outperform Global Costs, But Legacy Infrastructure Holds Back Full Potential

The Bank of Italy recently conducted a study on stablecoin remittances and found that they outperform global costs in most payment corridors. Researchers analyzed approximately 200 transactions across 10 international routes, discovering that stablecoin transfers achieved lower transaction costs than the average in these routes.

However, the findings also revealed that blockchain transaction fees were not the primary limiting factor in the efficiency of stablecoin transfers. Instead, the largest expenses emerged when users converted their stablecoins into local fiat currencies and relied on traditional banking networks or domestic payment systems to complete transactions.

The research suggests that while blockchain technology has significantly improved the speed and affordability of international payments, its benefits are partially constrained by the continued dependence on conventional financial infrastructure. The study's conclusions have attracted attention across the digital asset industry, with market participants discussing their implications for global finance.