Payment firm Wise rules out crypto remittances support citing high costs

British-based fintech firm Wise British-based fintech firm Wise has ruled out the possibility of facilitating cross-border crypto remittance, citing high costs for now.

The payments platform, however, noted that cryptocurrencies come with additional advantages like speeding up the money transfer process but stated that it’s avoiding the costs of exchanging money, Lupana reported on September 5. 

“Currently, most people still have to do conversions between fiat and cryptocurrencies and incur unnecessary friction and fees during the process. We remain very focused on reducing those fees and friction when people move money around the world,” said Pedro Barreiro, Wise’s Brazil banking and expansion head. 

In this line, Barreiro noted that Wise is also exploring the Latin America region for the crypto option while singling out the vibrant digital assets market in the area. 

Wise relationship with cryptocurrencies 

At the moment, Wise only allows users to purchase cryptocurrencies using funds in their accounts. At the same time, its customers can also receive money from platforms that offer digital assets, provided they are regulated under the European Union and British laws. 

Despite Wise skepticism, other fintech platforms like Brazil-based- Dock announced it would deploy cryptocurrencies to process international remittances as it embarks on an expansion drive. 

Notably, Wise has devised a model using local bank networks to facilitate remittance while supporting the conversion of different currencies. The model eliminates high commissions incurred from cross-border transfers. 

Interestingly, fintech venturing into cross-border transfers are increasingly incorporating blockchain technology, citing reduced costs and instant transfers. 

Overall, using cryptocurrencies in remittance still faces several barriers like lack of utility, the expense of exchanges, volatility, and regulatory obstacles. 

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