🔎 Quick overview
Stablecoins → solution of the market, already operational
CBDCs → state solution, still in development
They are not enemies: they compete in some uses and complement each other in others.
🆚 Direct comparison (international payments)
Stablecoins
Current status: Real use today
Speed: Seconds / minutes
Availability: 24/7
Interoperability: High (open blockchains)
Cost: Very low
Access: Banks, companies, user
Regulation: In process, progressing
Privacy: Medium (pseudonymous)
Global scalability: High today
CBDCs
Current status: Mostly pilots
Speed: Fast, but it depends on the model
Availability: Limited by agreements between countries
Interoperability: Low–medium (closed systems)
Cost: Low, but variable
Access: Only authorized entities
Regulation: Fully regulated
Privacy: Low (state control)
Global scalability: Slow, bilateral/multilateral
🟢 Stablecoins en pagos cross-border
✅ Key advantages
They work todaynot in 5 years
They do not require agreements between central banks.
Almost instant liquidation
Very low costs
They operate 24/7
Interoperables (ETH, L2s, Solana, etc.)
👉 For regional banks and companies:
They are like an already operational "internet of money".
⚠️ Limitations
Issuer dependency (USDC, USDT)
Residual regulatory risk
They need bank on/off ramps
🏛️ CBDCs in cross-border payments
✅ Advantages
Maximum legal support
Direct integration with central banks
Zero credit risk
Useful for large sovereign liquidations
❌ Practical problems
Very limited interoperability
They require political agreements between countries
Slow implementation
They are not intended for open global use
Reduced privacy
👉 Today:
CBDCs are better for state-to-state transactions, not for global company-to-company transactions.
🧠 Who wins in practice today?
🔹 For regional banks, businesses, and remittances:
✅ Stablecoins
🔹 For governments and large sovereign debt liquidations:
✅ CBDCs
🔮 The most realistic (hybrid) scenario
What we'll probably see:
Stablecoins (USDC, EURC)
→ cross-border commercial payments, B2B, remittancesCBDCs
→ domestic payments, settlements between central banksBanks
Custody, compliance, credit, on/off-ramps
It's not a war. It's layered specialization.
🧩 Practical example
Company in Mexico pays supplier in Korea:
Today with stablecoins
MXN → USDC
Transferencia on-chain
USDC → KRW
⏱️ Minutes | 💸 Low cost
Con CBDCs
Requires MX-CBDC ↔ KR-CBDC interoperability
Bilateral agreements
Common infrastructure
⏳ Not yet available at scale
✔️ Stablecoins have a clear advantage today in cross-border payments
✔️ CBDCs are potent, but slow and more closed
✔️ The future is hybrid, not exclusive
✔️ Regulation is pushing “bank-grade” stablecoins, not eliminating them
The world's money will movefaster,
not necessarilyonly by central banks.
This is general information only and not financial advice. For personal guidance, please talk to a licensed professional.