Supplier payment fees, FX spreads, wire charges, correspondence fees, can consume a high percentage of each invoice amount…

In this article, we will break down the true cost components of traditional bank wires, compare them to stablecoin-based alternatives, and demonstrate how your firm can reduce fees by up to 90%.

To illustrate, here’s what a typical cross-border transfer really costs:

The Anatomy of Traditional Cross Border Payment Fees

Below is the breakdown of each cost component you face when sending a standard SWIFT payment:

• Issuing Bank Fee: 0.1–0.3%
• Correspondent Banks: 2–3 intermediaries × 0.1–0.2% each
• FX Markup: 2–4%
• Receiving Bank Fee: 0.1–0.2%

Example: Paying a $50 000 invoice via SWIFT results in $2 000 – $2 500 total fees (4% - 5%).

Now, let’s see how a stablecoin sandwich flips this script, by slicing away multiple fee layers:

Stablecoin Fee Structure

Here’s what it looks like when you on-ramp to USDC, move on-chain, and off-ramp back to fiat:

• On-Ramp Conversion: 0.2–0.4% for fiat → stablecoin
• On-Chain Transfer: Flat network fee (e.g. $1 for some networks)
• Off-Ramp Conversion: 0.2–0.4% for stablecoin → fiat

Example: A $50 000 payment via USDC costs roughly $250 (0.5%), a 90% reduction.

Beyond fee savings, hybrid liquidity models also supercharge your working capital:

Capital Efficiency Gains

By combining lean bank pre-funding with on-demand stablecoin pools, you can:

• Significantly reduce idle balances in local accounts
• Lower operational costs in emerging-market corridors

With just-in-time liquidity, you free up capital to invest in growth instead of letting it sit idle.

To bring these benefits to life, here’s a side-by-side comparison:

Real-World Cost Comparison

Invoice Size: $100 000

• Traditional: $5 000 (5%)
• Stablecoin: $500 (0.5%)

Annual Volume: $10 million

• Traditional Fees: $500 000
• Stablecoin Fees: $50 000
• Annual Savings: $450 000

Implementation Considerations

When you’re ready to pilot, focus on:

• Netting & Offsets: Batch multiple invoices into single on-chain transfers.
• Dynamic Routing: Choose between bank rails and stablecoin LPs per transaction.
• Yield on Balances: Park stablecoins in DeFi vaults to earn 3–5% APY on idle payables.

Let’s improve your payments together :)

And now that you have got here, thank you for reading this week’s edition of Depa Digest! We really appreciate your time and commitment to staying informed on the latest news in our ecosystem. If you have any insights regarding this topic, feel free to share it with us in the comments!

This article was written by Javier Perez, Corporate Growth & Partnerships at Depa.

If you’d like to learn more about how Depa is helping to shape the future of digital asset infrastructure, visit our website at depa.finance. See you in the next edition! 🚀