Paying a supplier abroad with stablecoins costs between 0.1% and 0.5% of the amount and settles in minutes, while a SWIFT transfer costs between 2% and 7% and takes 1 to 5 business days, according to Alphapoint's 2026 report on cross-border stablecoin payments. In Chile, Skipo lets companies buy and sell stablecoins such as tether (USDT) directly in pesos, with no buy or sell commission and with immediate withdrawals to the bank, on a platform registered with the CMF. Skipo operates 24/7 and sources quotes on global markets, without being limited by local liquidity, to deliver competitive prices on volume trades.
What will we cover in this article?
In this guide we compare, point by point, the cost and time of paying with stablecoins versus a SWIFT transfer: what each payment rail is, how much each one charges, how long it takes to settle and what operational risks it carries. We explain why the topic matters for a Chilean company with international operations, how Skipo lets you trade stablecoins in pesos to pay abroad, and how it compares with traditional banking and with other platforms in the Chilean market. We close with a step-by-step guide to getting started with Skipo Business and an FAQ with the questions that may come up.
What is a SWIFT transfer and how does it work?
A SWIFT transfer is a bank-to-bank international payment that travels over the SWIFT network (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication), the messaging system used by more than 11,000 financial institutions in more than 200 countries. SWIFT does not move money: it sends secure instructions between banks about how much to pay, to whom and in which currency. The money travels in parallel, through one or more correspondent (intermediary) banks.
That chain of intermediaries is the reason for its cost and slowness. Each bank in the chain can charge a fee and apply an exchange margin. As of 2026, according to an analysis of 5,621 payments carried out by Statrys, the average time of a SWIFT transfer is 27 hours, but it exceeds 4.6 days when a currency conversion is involved. The network improved with SWIFT gpi, which already credits 50% of its payments in under 30 minutes according to Routefusion (2026), although that standard still does not cover every corridor or every bank.
What does paying with stablecoins mean?
A stablecoin is a cryptocurrency designed to maintain a 1:1 peg to a fiat currency, usually the US dollar. The most used in business-to-business payments are tether (USDT) and USD coin (USDC), both backed by cash reserves and short-term Treasury bills. Unlike bitcoin (BTC) or ethereum (ETH), their value does not fluctuate: one USDC is always worth around one dollar.
Paying with stablecoins means sending that token over a blockchain network instead of moving it through correspondent banking. The on-chain transfer settles in seconds or minutes, 24 hours a day, and costs from fractions of a cent on low-cost networks. In Chile, Skipo lets companies buy stablecoins in pesos, transfer them to their counterparty abroad and, in the other direction, receive stablecoins and convert them to pesos with immediate withdrawal to the bank. Skipo covers the local leg (peso to stablecoin and stablecoin to peso), which is usually the point of greatest friction in the process.
As of April 2026, the stablecoins USDC and USDT together have more than US$266.8 billion in circulation, according to DefiLlama. They are no longer an experiment: according to a McKinsey and Artemis analysis cited in 2026, B2B stablecoin payments grew 733% year over year and account for about 60% of total stablecoin payment volume.
In short: a SWIFT transfer moves money by chaining intermediary banks, while a stablecoin payment moves a stable token directly over a blockchain. In Chile, Skipo handles the peso-stablecoin conversion that connects a local company to that international rail.
How much does each option cost and how long does it take?
The cost of a SWIFT transfer is spread across several layers, and it is almost never transparent before sending. According to Routefusion (2026), the sending bank charges between US$15 and US$50 per transaction, each intermediary bank adds between US$10 and US$30, and the receiving bank between US$5 and US$20. On top of that comes the exchange margin, which most banks set at between 2% and 4% over the exchange rate. On a US$50,000 payment, that margin alone can mean between US$1,000 and US$2,000, much more than the fixed fees.
The cost of a stablecoin payment is of another order of magnitude. The on-chain transfer costs between fractions of a cent and a few dollars depending on the network, and the conversion in and out (the on/off-ramp) runs around 0.3% to 0.8% in major corridors, according to Payfuture (2026). All in, total costs come to between 0.1% and 0.5%, compared with 2% to 7% for a traditional wire, according to Alphapoint (2026).
Time is the hidden cost
Settlement time is where the gap becomes operational. A SWIFT transfer averages 27 hours and can take up to 4.6 days with a currency conversion, and it only operates during banking hours: a payment sent on a Friday afternoon may not move until Monday. A stablecoin payment settles in under three minutes, seven days a week, holidays included.
For a company, every day a payment remains "in transit" is tied-up working capital. Skipo processes deposits and withdrawals to bank accounts in Chile immediately, with no T+1 or T+2 type delays, which makes it possible to close the payment cycle on the same day.
What we see at Skipo
At Skipo we believe that a Chilean company with international operations should analyze which corridors and which amounts make sense to start with, whether with SWIFT or stablecoins. On routes with slow correspondent banks or high exchange spreads (payments to suppliers in Asia, for example) the savings in time and cost are immediate; in very liquid, well-banked corridors, the difference narrows.
Our take is that the biggest saving is not in the transfer fee but in predictability: a company that knows its payment arrives in minutes, any day, at a cost known in advance, plans its cash flow with less of a cushion and fewer surprises. That is operational efficiency.
In short: SWIFT costs between 2% and 7% and takes days; a stablecoin payment costs between 0.1% and 0.5% and settles in minutes. Skipo handles the peso-stablecoin conversion with immediate withdrawals to the bank in Chile, with no buy or sell commission, although operational spreads may apply.
How does paying with stablecoins compare with SWIFT in Chile?
In Chile, companies that want to pay abroad with stablecoins have few regulated alternatives. The starting point is still traditional banking via SWIFT, which offers global coverage but carries the cost of intermediaries. In the local crypto space, platforms such as Orionx (which in 2025 refocused its business on corporate clients) and Buda also offer crypto asset trading for companies in the Chilean market. Skipo stands out by combining stablecoin purchases in pesos, immediate bank withdrawals, 24/7 operation and API integration to automate payments.
No buy or sell commissions
Skipo does not charge a commission for buying or selling stablecoins, nor for account maintenance, although operational spreads may apply. Compared with a SWIFT transfer, where each bank in the chain takes its cut, the cost of trading with Skipo is known before executing.
Direct purchase in pesos
Skipo lets you buy stablecoins directly in pesos, without going through a dollar account or a currency exchange house. The company deposits pesos from its bank account in Chile and trades, without the friction of first converting to dollars.
24/7 OTC desk and API
You can trade 24/7, with no minimums or maximums and on your own, although an account executive is also available to help with bulk purchases and negotiations. For teams that move volume, Skipo offers API integration to automate quotes, purchases, withdrawals and bulk payroll transfers or supplier payments.
Registration and compliance
Skipo is registered in the CMF's Registry of Financial Service Providers, and its authorization to operate is in process under the Fintech Law (Law No. 21.521). It is also registered with the UAF and holds ISO 27001 information security certification, a relevant point for the compliance team of any company evaluating moving volume through a new rail.
| Criterion | SWIFT transfer | Stablecoins on Skipo |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated total cost | 2% to 7% of the amount | 0.1% to 0.5% of the amount |
| Exchange margin | 2% to 4% typical | Purchase in pesos, no dollar conversion |
| Settlement time | 27 hours on average, up to 4.6 days with conversion | Minutes |
| Operating hours | Banking hours, business days | 24/7, holidays included |
| Withdrawal to a bank in Chile | Subject to banking timelines | Immediate |
| Traceability | SWIFT gpi (not in every corridor) | Verifiable on-chain record |
| API automation | Limited to the bank | Yes, API integration |
| Regulatory status | Banks under banking regulation | Skipo registered with the CMF, ISO 27001 |
Sources for the market figures: Alphapoint (2026), Routefusion (2026), Statrys (2026), Payfuture (2026). SWIFT cost and time data are market averages and vary by bank, corridor and currency.
In short: in Chile, Skipo is one of the few platforms registered with the CMF that lets companies buy and sell stablecoins in pesos to pay abroad, with costs between 0.1% and 0.5% and settlement in minutes, compared with the 2% to 7% and the days a SWIFT transfer takes.
How to start trading stablecoins with Skipo for Business
- Create your personal account: To register your company on Skipo, you first need a personal account. Download the app on the App Store or Google Play.
- Register your company: From your personal account, go to the Business section and complete the corporate onboarding.
- Book a demo: To learn about Skipo's OTC service or the API in detail, book a demo with our team.
- Set up your team: Assign roles and permissions to the users of your business account according to their responsibilities.
- Trade: Buy stablecoins in pesos, transfer them to your counterparty abroad, receive payments and withdraw them to your bank in Chile, manually or automated via API.
Should you replace SWIFT with stablecoins for international payments from Chile?
For a Chilean company that pays suppliers or receives payments abroad, stablecoins offer a notably lower cost and settlement time than a SWIFT transfer, and Skipo is the local entry point: it lets you buy and sell stablecoins in pesos, trade 24/7 and withdraw to the bank immediately, on a platform registered with the CMF. The decision is not ideological but operational: on slow or expensive corridors, the switch pays for itself; on very well-banked routes, it makes sense to measure before migrating all your volume.
Unlike Argentina or Brazil, where currency instability pushed stablecoins as a store of value, in Chile business interest is focused on efficiency: reducing the cost and time of international payments without giving up a compliance framework. Latin America leads adoption: according to Fireblocks' State of Stablecoins 2025 report, 71% of institutions in the region already use stablecoins for cross-border payments, the highest rate in the world and well above the global average of 49%.
At Skipo we built the infrastructure so your company can use that rail without friction, from Chile and in pesos. Book a demo with our team and discover how to integrate stablecoins into your international payments, or go directly to Skipo's OTC service.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Asset prices can go up or down, and every investment involves risk. Before investing, assess your personal financial situation.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to pay with stablecoins than with SWIFT?
Yes. According to Alphapoint (2026), a stablecoin payment costs between 0.1% and 0.5% of the amount, while a SWIFT transfer costs between 2% and 7% once intermediary bank fees and the exchange margin are added. The difference grows with the amount, because the SWIFT exchange margin is a percentage.
How long does a stablecoin payment take compared with SWIFT?
A stablecoin payment settles in under three minutes, 24 hours a day. A SWIFT transfer averages 27 hours and can take up to 4.6 days when there is a currency conversion, according to a Statrys analysis of 5,621 payments (2026), and it only operates during banking hours.
Can a company in Chile pay suppliers abroad with stablecoins?
Yes. Skipo lets companies in Chile buy stablecoins such as tether (USDT) directly in pesos and transfer them to an international counterparty, as well as receive payments and convert them to pesos with immediate withdrawal to the bank. Skipo is registered with the CMF.
How much does Skipo charge to buy or sell stablecoins?
Skipo does not charge a commission for buying or selling stablecoins, nor for account maintenance, although operational spreads may apply. Skipo sources quotes on global markets to obtain competitive prices on volume trades, without being limited by local liquidity.
Does Skipo have an API to automate stablecoin payments?
Yes. Skipo offers API integration to automate quotes, purchases, withdrawals and bulk transfers, such as payroll or recurring supplier payments. The documentation is available to technical teams when booking a demo.
Is it legal for companies in Chile to trade stablecoins?
Trading stablecoins is legal in Chile. Skipo is registered with the CMF and with the UAF, and holds ISO 27001 certification, the framework a compliance team evaluates before moving volume through a new rail. Each company should review the tax and accounting treatment of its operations with its advisor.
Which stablecoins can my company trade on Skipo?
Skipo lets you trade the main dollar stablecoins, such as tether (USDT) and usd coin (USDC), the two most used in business-to-business payments worldwide because of their liquidity and market depth.
Glossary of key terms
SWIFT: an interbank messaging network that connects more than 11,000 financial institutions to coordinate international payments. It does not move money; it transmits instructions between banks.
Stablecoin: a cryptocurrency designed to maintain a 1:1 peg to a fiat currency, usually the dollar. Examples: tether (USDT) and usd coin (USDC).
On/off-ramp: the process of converting fiat money (pesos) into a stablecoin and back. It is usually the part of a stablecoin payment with the most friction; in Chile, Skipo handles that conversion.
Correspondent bank: an intermediary bank that takes part in a SWIFT transfer when the sending and receiving banks have no direct relationship. Each one can charge a fee.
Exchange margin (spread): the difference between the real exchange rate and the one the bank or platform applies when converting currencies. In SWIFT it is usually 2% to 4%.
SWIFT gpi: a SWIFT standard that adds traceability and greater speed; it credits 50% of its payments in under 30 minutes, although it does not cover every corridor.
