High Transfer Costs Make Bahaman Payment Platform Turn To Crypto

A Bahaman payment platform named Island Pay has decided to offer crypto as a remittance option, after the high costs on money sending.
By Coingape Staff

Latin America region is facing high costs and challenges of traditional settlements. People sending money to their close ones have to face high rates of transfer and a good portion of the population is unbanked. And in the wake of resolving this issue, Bahamas Payment Platform, Island Pay, has become the latest company to offer crypto as a remittance option, Bloomberg reported

Advertisement
Advertisement

Implement Crypto To Avoid High Costs

In Latin America and the Caribbean, Island Pay will roll out a digital wallet that uses Circle’s USDC stablecoin as its main medium of exchange. The wallet, known as CiNKO, will be offered in more than 30 nations and will enable users to fund prepaid cards, conduct business with vendors, and send payments to other users even if they don’t have a bank account.

“Our goal is to continuously look for ways to advance financial inclusion in the region and enhance financial experiences for both the unbanked and banked populations,” Island Pay CEO Richard Douglas stated.

Bloomberg reported that according to an email from Circle’s Chief Business Officer Kash Razzaghi, the CiNKO wallet is a component of a larger initiative to introduce stablecoins and decentralized finance protocols in Latin America. According to a recent report by Circle, the technology might cut the cost of sending money abroad by 80%. While receiving USDC on CiNKO wallets is free, depending on the blockchain the transaction is executed, there may be a “gas fee”.

The payment platform and fintech business based in the Bahamas are not unique. There are already dozens of cryptocurrency wallets and international payment platforms.

Also Read: Why Are Companies Like Meta And Microsoft A Threat To Twitter’s New Logo X?

Advertisement
Advertisement

What Is The Need Of Crypto Payments?

The World Bank reports that the average cost of shipping $200, for instance, is 6.2% and that using conventional financial intermediaries can often take days. Despite this, remittances to Latin America and the Caribbean increased by 27% in 2021 and 11% in 2022, reaching $145 billion in 2017. Remittances are anticipated to reach an all-time high despite the region’s GDP slowing to 3.3% this year. 

According to Monica Talan, the founder of CryptoConexion, an educational portal on Web3 and decentralized finance, one of the primary obstacles to cryptocurrency remittances is the ease of use. There aren’t many locations to spend Bitcoin or ether in the majority of Latin American countries.

Also Read: Binance and Chief CZ Proceed for the Dismissal of the CFTC Lawsuit

Advertisement
Coingape Staff
CoinGape comprises an experienced team of native content writers and editors working round the clock to cover news globally and present news as a fact rather than an opinion. CoinGape writers and reporters contributed to this article.
Why trust CoinGape: CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journalists and analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.