$900 billion remittance market faces upheaval: How stablecoins are shaking up the traditional financial system

2026-01-17 11:54:12

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【Blockchain Rhythm】The application of stablecoins in cross-border payments is accelerating, and this global remittance market of approximately $900 billion is facing unprecedented transformation. The pain points of traditional remittance systems are obvious—currently, the average fee for cross-border remittances remains above 6%, which is a heavy burden for those sending money to developing countries.

Can stablecoins improve this situation? From a technical perspective, supported by blockchain technology, stablecoins can significantly reduce the costs and time of cross-border transfers. Users can perform peer-to-peer transfers through digital wallets, with fees and friction far lower than traditional channels. This undoubtedly poses a challenge to established remittance institutions like Western Union.

Changes in the regulatory environment are also accelerating this trend. The GENIUS Act signed by U.S. President Trump in July has established a federal regulatory framework for stablecoins, giving them a pass into the mainstream financial arena. As a result, traditional payment and remittance companies like Western Union and PayPal are beginning to develop stablecoin-related products, indicating they have recognized the direction of industry change.

However, this competition is not one-sided. Traditional remittance institutions possess a global customer network and mature compliance systems, giving them natural advantages in large-scale application. The problem is that their existing business models may actually hinder their transformation. Crypto-native companies and large payment platforms are more flexible in technological iteration and product innovation, but brand trust and regulatory implementation remain hurdles they cannot bypass.

What will the future competitive landscape look like? The market generally expects a three-way contest—traditional financial institutions, crypto-native companies, and fintech platforms competing in the remittance field. As regulatory details are gradually refined, the penetration of stablecoins in the global remittance market is expected to continue increasing this year, and this $900 billion market may usher in a moment of true transformation.

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AirdropLicker

· 1h ago

6% fee is too outrageous, Western Union and other old-fashioned companies should step down Can stablecoins really make an impact, or is it just another hype Wait, is this GENIUS Act reliable? It feels a bit too smooth People in developing countries should use stablecoins the most, saving a lot directly The framework signed by Trump, this time stablecoins are really about to take off

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DaoResearcher

· 3h ago

According to the data model in the white paper, a 6% fee structure is essentially rent-seeking behavior in traditional finance—while the stablecoin's p2p mechanism directly addresses this pain point. It is worth noting that although the regulatory framework of the GENIUS Act provides a compliant channel, whether the voting data of governance proposals can truly reflect market demand still requires on-chain data verification. From another perspective, if the penetration rate of stablecoins reaches a critical point, the tokenomics advantage of traditional remittance institutions will be completely eliminated—but here’s the problem: who will ensure the stability of cross-chain liquidity? Having only a federation framework is not enough.

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UnluckyValidator

· 3h ago

6% transaction fee is really outrageous; the old guys at Western Union should be overthrown in a revolution. The hype around stablecoins feels exaggerated; in actual use, there are still many issues. Trump signs a bill and everyone gets excited? Regulatory frameworks ≠ truly implementable, everyone. Peer-to-peer transfers sound great, but how many ordinary people actually use digital wallets... Can this wave of reform truly help developing countries, or is it just capital cutting the leeks again? Western Union trembling? Haha, they should be panicking indeed. Everyone wants a piece of the $9 trillion cake, but in the end, the big whales will make the money. Stablecoins are popular, but don’t let it turn into another scheme to cut the leeks.

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AirdropJunkie

· 3h ago

A 6% fee is really incredible; the bank's way of cutting leeks should go bankrupt. If stablecoins really take off, Western Union will be directly gone, but regulation still needs to be watched. Trump's bill is considered a turning point, but it's still a long way from implementation. Remittance demand is huge; once costs drop, the market will explode.

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GateUser-4745f9ce

· 3h ago

6% fee? Western Union should be trembling haha This wave of stablecoins really has a chance Deregulation is like giving a green light

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GasSavingMaster

· 3h ago

6% transaction fee is really amazing. My mom is still using Western Union to send money. Luckily, I convinced her to use stablecoins. --- Once Trump's act really takes effect, will Western Union be crying? --- Peer-to-peer transfers really hit the pain point, but the number of users actually onboarded is still too few. --- Basically, the old forces are being challenged, and banks can't sit still. --- Stablecoins really have a chance this time, provided they don't get cut down by regulations. --- In a market of 900 billion, whoever grabs it wins, it all depends on who is faster. --- I just want to know when we can really see fees come down. For now, it's just talk. --- Western Union and these old brands should really be worried. The times have changed.

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ser_aped.eth

· 3h ago

6% fee really is outrageous. Every time my mom sends money back home, she's always scammed. The day stablecoins replace Western Union, I will celebrate. Trump's move is probably unintentionally helping Web3... That said, whether it can really take off depends on each country's attitude. Regulatory frameworks are just the first step. Wait, the remittance market is worth 900 billion? Such a huge cake, everyone wants a bite. Peer-to-peer transfers sound great, but can retail investors really use them? That's another story. Disruption of traditional finance is inevitable, but the question is how far stablecoins can go.

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