The Cross-Border Cost Index

According to RemitRoutes data (week of 2026-09-07), crypto and stablecoin rails average -1.19% of the transfer amount in total cost across 462 corridors, versus 0.58% for traditional banks and fintechs across 494 corridors. Median total cost is -0.08% (crypto) versus 0.50% (traditional).

This is the only live, measured index of crypto-versus-traditional remittance cost — recomputed every 6 hours from real provider quotes, not modelled or surveyed. Explore the full corridor league table.

Updated September 10, 2026 · refreshed every 6 hours. Total cost = transfer fee + FX markup. Methodology.

Where does crypto stop winning?

We measure total cost at $200, $1,000, and $5,000 send amounts and find the approximate send size where the cheapest crypto path and the cheapest traditional path cross over.

CorridorCheapest cryptoCheapest traditionalVerdict
USD → PEN Peru Binance P2P Instarem Crosses over near $4503
SGD → KES Kenya Luno Western Union Crosses over near $4613
CAD → KES Kenya Luno Western Union Crosses over near $4759
AUD → KES Kenya Luno National Australia Bank Crosses over near $4761
NZD → KES Kenya Luno Remitly Crosses over near $4864
SEK → KES Kenya Luno Western Union Crosses over near $4897
DKK → KES Kenya Luno Remitly Crosses over near $4903
NOK → KES Kenya Luno Western Union Crosses over near $4905
KRW → KES Kenya Luno Wise Crosses over near $4905
HKD → KES Kenya Luno Western Union Crosses over near $4915

Total cost % is measured at three sized send amounts ($200, $1,000, $5,000) using each provider's own depth-aware quote where available (order-book VWAP), else a flat fee %. The crossover send amount is LINEARLY INTERPOLATED between the two nearest measured points where the cheaper rail switches — it is an estimate of where the lines cross, not a directly measured data point. Corridors are excluded if we lack both a crypto and a traditional quote.