Bank of Italy Study Debunks Stablecoin Cost Advantages in Remittances

A recent study by the Bank of Italy has found that stablecoins do not offer a consistent cost advantage for international remittance transfers. Researchers analyzed the relationship between traditional banking transaction fees and the use of blockchain technology, concluding that most observed differences in costs and processing times were attributed to local currency (fiat) conversion rates and payment infrastructure, rather than the transaction fees associated with stablecoins themselves. This finding is particularly relevant given the growing adoption of blockchain technologies within the global financial industry, where there was an expectation that stablecoins could significantly reduce the costs associated with international remittances. The study suggests that pathways to operational efficiency and lower costs may lie less in directly adopting blockchain technology than in improving the management of traditional currencies and payment infrastructure.