1.4B — Unbanked adults worldwide (World Bank, 2024)
| Method | Who Supports It | Typical Fee ($300) | Speed | Recipient Needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Pickup | Western Union, MoneyGram, Ria | $5–$20 | Minutes–1 day | ID + reference number |
| Mobile Money Wallet | WorldRemit, Remitly, Wise (select) | $2–$8 | Instant–1 hour | Mobile phone + SIM |
| Agent Network Payout | Ria, Remitly, local partners | $3–$12 | Same day | ID at agent |
| Home Delivery (select markets) | Western Union (Philippines, Indonesia) | $5–$15 | 1–2 days | Valid ID |
| Post Office Payout | MoneyGram, national post partners | $4–$12 | Same day–1 day | ID + reference |
| Region / Country | Best Cash Pickup | Best Mobile Money | Local Crypto Off-Ramp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | Ria, Western Union | Opay (via WorldRemit) | Luno, Quidax |
| Kenya / East Africa | Ria, MoneyGram | M-Pesa (WorldRemit, Wise) | Luno |
| Philippines | Ria, Western Union | GCash (Remitly, WorldRemit) | Coins.ph |
| Mexico | Ria, Remitly | OXXO Pay (Remitly) | Bitso |
| Bangladesh | Western Union, MoneyGram | bKash (WorldRemit, Remitly) | Limited |
| Ghana | Ria, Western Union | MTN Mobile Money (WorldRemit) | Quidax |
| India | Western Union, Ria | N/A (bank transfer preferred) | CoinDCX |
| West Africa (Senegal/Mali) | Western Union | Wave, Orange Money | Limited |
Mobile money delivery (e.g., M-Pesa, GCash, bKash) via WorldRemit or Remitly is typically the cheapest option at $2–8 on a $300 transfer, and often arrives within an hour. Cash pickup via Ria is the next cheapest for recipients in areas without mobile money coverage. Crypto off-ramps via Coins.ph (Philippines) or Luno (Africa) can beat both for total cost under $3, but require your recipient to have an exchange account.
Yes—mobile money wallets like M-Pesa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda), GCash (Philippines), bKash (Bangladesh), and Wave (West Africa) are tied to a SIM card, not a bank account. Services like WorldRemit, Remitly, and Wise (for select corridors) can deliver directly to these wallets using just your recipient's mobile number.
You initiate the transfer online or via app with Western Union, MoneyGram, or Ria, and pay the fee. You receive a reference number (e.g., MTCN for Western Union). You share that number with your recipient. They visit any partner agent location—a pharmacy, convenience store, or post office—show a government-issued ID and the reference number, and collect the cash in local currency. The entire process from send to pickup can take minutes.
Most cash pickup providers require a government-issued photo ID: national ID card, passport, or driver's license. Some markets (Philippines, parts of Latin America) also accept postal IDs or voter registration cards. The ID name must match the recipient name entered by the sender exactly. Check the specific provider's requirements for your destination country before sending.
Yes, in select corridors. Coins.ph (Philippines) lets recipients receive USDC/USDT and cash out at 20,000+ partner locations or transfer to GCash—no bank account needed. Luno (Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa) requires KYC registration but not a bank account to hold crypto; withdrawals to mobile money are supported. The barrier is the one-time exchange registration, which takes 10–30 minutes with a valid ID and phone number.
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