Latest news with #digitalpayments
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Waiting an infinity for QR code payments to go through?
JUNE 28 — Most people are aware there are some important issues and problems related to QR code payments. These include: security and fraud risks, code interoperability, merchant confusion, refunds, transaction fees, limited adoption, etc. However, there is a less critical but (potentially) no less annoying one. I was standing in line at a nasi kandar shop, waiting for my turn to pay. There were only two other customers in front of me, so I didn't envision a long wait. But then three minutes became five minutes then eight became 10 until not just me but the patrons behind me were like, okay, what on earth is happening? Then lo and behold, we found out the reason for the delay: It appears one of the folks in front of me was waiting for his Touch & Go app to load! Out of embarrassment, the person shyly showed us his screen, with the dreaded 'spinning wheel' reflecting its ongoing attempt to load. Thankfully none of us were facing some national emergency so we all patiently waited and smiled and gave each other 'Yeah I know right' nods. Eventually, perhaps after 12 minutes or so, the problem was fixed and we all managed to pay and leave. However, I wonder if this incident reflects a deeper problem with digital payments in general and QR code payments in particular. As we all know, these mobile banking and e-wallet apps require frequent updates. Long and short, we are certainly going to see longer queues when making payment at shops because the functionality and speed of old phones (or just slow ones) is a problem which won't go away too fast. — SoyaCincau pic That's fine and good given security and performance concerns but, alamak, not everyone possesses high-quality phones which can cater to so many updates and, aiyo, not everyone is phone-savvy enough to close their numerous apps before opening their e-wallets to make payment. Long and short, we are certainly going to see longer queues when making payment at shops because the functionality and speed of old phones (or just slow ones) is a problem which won't go away too fast. In case anyone is tempted to think this is 'not that big a deal', consider that every day in Malaysia we can have literally millions of over-the-counter transactions involving QR payments. Imagine if even 10 per cent of such transactions are stretched five minutes longer? How much time would be collectively wasted? Analogously, isn't this why our government created the MyBorder Pass to save an extra minute or so despite the airport's autogate working relatively fast? Because when you add up all the minutes, the time savings are substantial and everyone wins? I've lost count of the number of times I've had to tell a customer behind me at a KK Mart to go ahead and pay first (despite me being ahead of said person in the queue) because I forgot I needed about 20 seconds for my Maybank app to load and, sigh, I didn't bring my wallet. Now imagine a customer who not only has no other way (apart from the QR code) to make his payment but he also forgot to update his app such that he's got to perform the update on the spot. A perfect storm is if this person's phone is a bit dated and he refuses to let anyone take his place until the upgrade is completed. And you wonder why there are videos of people fighting over wait times! Anyway, if this article does nothing but encourage people who always use QR code payments to kindly get their apps ready before they join the payment counter queue, I'd be happy. We Malaysians certainly need less stress in our lives. * This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
How Blockchain Is Reshaping Commerce, One Wallet At A Time
Jamie Elkaleh is the Chief Marketing Officer at Bitget Wallet. In the world of shopping, blockchain is emerging as an undeniable game changer; from enabling faster, borderless payments to reducing fees and improving transaction efficiency, the possibilities are endless and exciting. One of blockchain's most remarkable capabilities is facilitating true democratization, empowering businesses and individuals: Web3 provides merchants with lower costs and eliminates reliance on banks, offering relief from geographic, political and regulatory complications. It functions transparently; everything is available on a public ledger, allowing businesses and consumers a clear view for navigating the digital economy. It creates access to digital-first customers, as well as an opportunity to "bank the unbanked," helping those traditionally excluded from financial services due to restrictive requirements. Blockchain wallets are no longer just a more sophisticated version of electronic money. They serve an array of real-world purposes beyond just storing assets: Users can earn interest, shop and send instant, low-cost borderless payments—especially for remittances, which are growing rapidly worldwide. With Web3 and blockchain, transactions that used to take days and involve high fees can now happen in seconds with much lower costs. Blockchain is opening a world of user-friendly payment alternatives that challenge traditional financial systems—offering solutions that are cheaper, faster and more accessible. Reducing Barriers To Entry Of course, there are obstacles to inclusion. One of the biggest is the technological learning curve. That's something our company is actively working to address by providing educational resources in local communities. Even with traditional banking, accessibility is an issue. More and more high-street banks are closing down, and the days of walking into a branch and speaking to someone in person are disappearing. Everything is moving online and becoming automated, or shifting to rely on AI chatbots. Consequently, we counter the argument that blockchain is 'too complicated' by asserting that even traditional finance is becoming harder to navigate for certain demographics. We believe strongly that putting technology directly into communities and making it as easy as possible to use is both a business and ethical imperative. Creating pathways for the comprehension and use of blockchain technology allows companies not only to expand their user base but also to help these users (for instance, by minimizing issues like chargebacks, since blockchain transactions are transparent and verifiable by anyone). Companies whose business is blockchain should consider the fact that in order to gain maximum buy-in, it's essential to upskill and educate users—particularly those in local constituent communities—on how blockchain can empower their daily lives. The mission cannot be merely about introducing people to 'your' proprietary technology; rather, it should be viewed as providing them with tools they can actually, meaningfully use for their own financial betterment. For our company, this has meant not just working with individuals but also onboarding merchants, so they can learn to accept digital payments and, in doing so, realize a huge gain (eliminating high banking fees, streamlining operations). By educating them, we're helping them increase profitability and expand their customer base. We believe this education is part of our role; our success relies on users understanding the potential of these solutions. Revolutionary Trust And Accessibility One of the reasons it's so important that individuals and merchants understand blockchain is that it has changed commerce dramatically—particularly the way people shop. Blockchain enhances trust between producers, merchants and consumers. Companies like Walmart and IBM are already using enterprise blockchain solutions to track their supply chains internally. The next step is making that information public—allowing consumers to verify a product's entire journey from production to purchase, allowing them to assess everything from freshness to authenticity to ethical sourcing. Blockchain is bridging the gap between digital currencies and everyday shopping. Millions of people worldwide already own digital assets; now, thanks to new infrastructure, they can spend them seamlessly, with some high-street banks now accepting digital currency deposits into traditional banking applications. Increasingly, companies at the vanguard want to take things a step further, enabling users to shop directly with their digital assets. They can use digital currency-backed payment cards, earn interest like a regular bank account, access cashback rewards and even take advantage of installment plans. Now, with integrations like Apple Pay, digital payments are becoming just as straightforward as traditional banking methods—something that wasn't possible in the recent past. Best Practices For Implementation One major challenge we've been grappling with is the stigma around Web3 and blockchain technology. Unfortunately, we've recently seen senior global leaders publicly discussing the space in ways that don't always align with its core principles. Web3 isn't just about speculation or meme coins; there are incredible builders in this space solving real-world problems with blockchain, such as providing financial access to millions of people who have been excluded from traditional banking systems. The focus should be on tangible solutions and real-world utility rather than just the headlines. For business leaders who are new to blockchain-based payments, we have some recommended best practices: 1. Start with pilot programs. Test blockchain integrations on a small scale before full implementation. Learn from the process and build solutions tailored to your organization's needs. 2. Educate and train your teams. Employees should understand both the opportunities and the risks of blockchain. Reducing resistance and increasing capability through education will ensure smoother adoption. 3. Acknowledge the stigma. There's no denying that digital currency, Web3 and blockchain still carry a certain air of disrepute. Breaking that down through transparency and education is important to diminishing that sensibility. 4. Respect regulations. Having a strong legal team ensures compliance and reduces risk, even in strict regulatory environments. 5. Focus on scalability. Any blockchain solution must be able to handle growth efficiently, or why bother? 6. Partner with experienced providers. While no one is a true 'expert' in such a rapidly evolving space, working with trusted, knowledgeable partners is essential (and can help sidestep many rookie mistakes). The Benefit Of An Open Mindset One of the difficulties faced by many blockchain startups (which we've dealt with several times, in our organization) is not yielding to the pressure to scale as quickly as possible. We have to remind ourselves sometimes that there's a benefit to prioritizing education and growing the wider space. We also strive to maintain an open mindset. We acknowledge that we exist in a space wherein competitors are aiming to do similar things to what we do; we have to remind ourselves that if a user comes in, likes the technology and then chooses to go with one of our competitors, that's still a win for the space as a whole. Obviously, we believe in our product and our services and hope that users will recognize the value we provide. However, the key to driving mass adoption is not just having people purchase your proprietary solution but encouraging people to explore and use the technology more broadly. If people engage with Web3, have a positive experience and share that experience, the entire ecosystem wins. Forbes Communications Council is an invitation-only community for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. Do I qualify?
Finextra
a day ago
- Business
- Finextra
Bolt launches support for stablecoin payments
Bolt, the checkout, identity and payments platform, today announced Bolt Connect, a new product designed to help marketplaces onboard merchants faster, streamline operations and scale with fewer resources. 0 This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. Bolt Connect gives marketplace operators a single integration to support one-click merchant onboarding, built-in compliance workflows, and low-fee or no-fee payouts. With Bolt managing the infrastructure, marketplaces can grow more efficiently while controlling their own brand experience and business model. The company also announced support for stablecoin payments, giving merchants and shoppers enhanced flexibility through new digital payment infrastructure. "Marketplaces shouldn't have to choose between scale and simplicity," said Ryan Breslow, Founder and CEO of Bolt. "With Bolt Connect, we're giving them the tools to grow without the usual technical burden, while stablecoin support opens the door to faster, borderless payments for everyone in the network." Bolt Connect: Built for Marketplaces Bolt Connect is designed to manage costly and time-intensive commerce infrastructure for marketplaces. It enables them to easily onboard and support sellers—whether they have 10 or 10,000—without significant development work and resources. Bolt handles the compliance, payouts, and infrastructure behind the scenes, giving marketplaces a clean path to scale while maintaining a seamless experience for both merchants and end users. Stablecoins: Faster, Cheaper, Global Payments Bolt's support for stablecoins will benefit both sides of the transaction. For merchants, it means faster settlement, lower transaction fees, and easier cross-border payouts—especially relevant for marketplaces using Bolt Connect. Stablecoins allow operators to move money globally without relying on banks or card networks. For shoppers, stablecoins offer a private, instant and borderless way to pay, no credit card, bank account or international fees required. These announcements follow a string of recent product launches from Bolt, part of the company's mission to make commerce easier for merchants and more intuitive for shoppers, regardless of platform, payment method or geography. Recent highlights include a strategic partnership with Palantir to launch Checkout 2.0, an AI-powered, personalized checkout experience that adapts in real time to shopper behavior and preferences, and the debut of Bolt's SuperApp, an all-in-one finance and crypto hub. It also recently launched Bolt Charge, a subscription solution that powers recurring payments for digital goods with no platform fees.
Coin Geek
2 days ago
- Business
- Coin Geek
Gen Alpha leading the push for digital payments: report
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... A new report has identified a new trend of Generation Alpha leading the push for digital payments, with the cohort leading adoption metrics over other demographics. The study, carried out by Mastercard (NASDAQ: MA), reveals that one in two Gen Alpha have a digital wallet, while nearly 50% of respondents have access to an investment account. Gen Alpha are individuals born after 2010, characterized by tech-savviness, given their access to smartphones and tablets from childhood. The Mastercard study honed in on the Asia-Pacific region, highlighting key payment trends in the emerging demographic. Mastercard based the report on the submission of 9,131 Gen Alpha respondents and their parents. The study revealed that despite the high prevalence of digital wallets, 48% of Gen Alphas still rely on credit cards. A staggering 47% of respondents say their kids (Gen Alphas) introduced them to new digital financial tools. The report highlights key differences between Gen Alphas and Millennials in terms of digital finances. Among Gen Alphas, there is a preference for innovative financial tools leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology. Gen Alphas are more likely to adopt tokenized assets and gamified finance over other demographics, showing a preference for voice interface and decentralized finance (DeFi). Sandeep Malhotra, Mastercard VP for core payments in APAC, disclosed that cash adoption in the cohort is the lowest across the spectrum while digitization is at its highest ebb. 'They're low-key money bosses, tapping phones before they can tie their shoes and turning budgeting apps into their playground,' said Malhotra. 'Cash? Not their go-to. Today it's all Tap & Go.' Gen Alphas indicate a preference for superapps, financial applications that go beyond payments, offering in-app social and shopping functionalities. Indonesia and China are leading the push for super apps in the region, with local data indicating a surge in Gen Alpha users. APAC is setting the global pace for digitization Regarding emerging technology adoption, the Asia Pacific region is moving ahead of its peers. Digital wallet adoption has increased throughout Asia while cash usage has reached new lows, outperforming the metrics of North America and Europe. In terms of AI, the APAC workplaces are the biggest adopters of AI-powered workflows, integrating them into their internal operations. APAC is miles ahead of the global average of 62.3% for digital workplace maturity, but job loss concerns and steep implementation costs continue to hinder progress. Benin Republic to national digital ID system with mobile wallet functionalities In other news, authorities in the Benin Republic have flashed the signal to roll out a national digital ID system for the country, merging emerging technologies into the offerings to improve existing solutions. According to a report, the West African country will integrate digital wallet functionalities into its digital ID system in a massive innovative leap. Aristide Guy Adjinacou, Director General of the National Agency for the Identification of Persons (ANIP), revealed the plans during the ID4Africa conference. Adjinacou disclosed to conference attendees that Benin has all the components needed to proceed with a national digital ID system. However, the last piece of the puzzle of the West African country is a mobile digital wallet for citizens to store credentials and personal data. The DG hinted that the offering would rely on blockchain, but it remains unclear if the digital wallet would offer payment functionalities. In terms of timeline, Adjinacou disclosed that the agency is eyeing a rollout by the end of 2026, prioritizing the digital ID system for citizens. Adjinacou disclosed that the integration into the national digital ID system will promote inclusivity while ensuring the security and privacy of personal data. Adjinacou stated in his keynote address that the country's digital transformation stems from a forward-thinking approach of the ruling government. The push toward digitization has the backing of local legislation, with the DG pointing to the 2017 Identification Law. Per Adjinacou, swift enforcement has seen 10 million individuals registered across Benin in the last six months, providing a deep database for the push towards a national digital ID system. 'Our register is connected to more than 80 public and private institutions, including banks and telecom operators,' said Adjinacou. ' This success is no accident, it is the result of deliberate strategy and strong foundations.' Integrating AI into local ID services Amid the push, Adjinacou disclosed a series of forward-thinking statements pointing to integrating artificial intelligence into the digital ID system. AI integration will be limited to information gathering to enable authorities to make data-driven decisions, particularly in reaching individuals in remote locations. 'Reaching the remaining two percent of the population is one of the most difficult tasks,' said Adjinacou. 'These last-mile communities each have unique characteristics and needs, and we must tailor our approach accordingly.' Across Africa, digital ID initiatives are gathering steam, with Nigeria and Zambia unfurling their national offerings. Ethiopia, Namibia, and São Tomé and Príncipe are the latest to signal an incoming national digital ID initiative. Watch: Importance of digitalization for enterprises title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
Finextra
3 days ago
- Business
- Finextra
Pay with TRIO: The E-Commerce Breakthrough.: By Eli Talmor
E-Commerce and Fraud: Lack of Trust. Online shopping offers unparalleled convenience, transforming how goods and services are purchased. This digital accessibility, however, also presents a fertile ground for fraudulent activities, impacting millions of individuals annually and resulting in significant financial harm. The sheer volume and speed of online transactions make them an attractive target for malicious actors, who constantly evolve their deceptive tactics. The global digital payment landscape is experiencing a period of explosive growth, with e-retail sales projected to approach $8 trillion by 2025. This rapid digital transformation, however, presents a significant paradox. While it undoubtedly offers unparalleled convenience and economic growth, it simultaneously creates an expanding attack surface for malicious actors, resulting in a concerning escalation in fraud losses. The inherent nature of online transactions, particularly the absence of a physical card, introduces higher fraud risks compared to traditional card-present scenarios. This structural difference makes Card-Not-Present (CNP) fraud a dominant concern, accounting for a substantial portion of all card fraud, exemplified by its 85.3% share in the UK. The very factors driving digital adoption thus amplify the necessity for robust security measures, initiating a continuous and dynamic contest between technological innovation and efforts to prevent fraud. The Significant Financial and Reputational Impact of Online Payment Fraud, Particularly from Stolen Payment Cards Online payment fraud poses a severe and multifaceted threat, resulting in substantial financial losses for both businesses and consumers globally. Projections indicate that global card fraud losses are anticipated to reach $40.53 billion by 2027, with e-commerce businesses alone facing an estimated $48 billion in losses to online payment fraud in 2023. The financial ramifications extend beyond direct monetary losses; for every $100 in fraudulent orders, businesses incur an additional $207 in indirect costs, encompassing chargeback fees, processing fees, and various operational overheads associated with fraud management. The United States, in particular, experiences exceptionally high rates of payment fraud, with reported losses increasing by 38% to $12.2 billion in 2024. Beyond the quantifiable financial damage, fraud severely erodes customer trust and significantly tarnishes brand reputation. A compelling study highlights this long-term impact, revealing that 47% of consumers would permanently cease shopping with a retailer following a data breach involving their payment card information. This observation underscores that fraud prevention strategies are not solely about protecting immediate revenue streams but are critically important for maintaining brand integrity and fostering customer loyalty, which represent intangible yet vital long-term assets. Businesses must therefore recognize that investments in robust security are fundamental to preserving their market standing and consumer relationships. Problem 1: Mistrust in Sellers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alone documented nearly 266,000 cases of online shopping and negative review scams in 2023. Problem 2: Mistrust in Buyers. Businesses are losing money to Fraud-$10.6m average annual loss to fraud per merchant.. The latter sees the potential threats both from Consumers as well as Professional fraudsters. These threats include: Online payment fraud The use of stolen cards by fraudsters: A fraudster takes control of a credit or debit card account to make unauthorized transactions. Card-not-present fraud: An unauthorized person uses stolen card details to make online purchases. Card skimming: Devices capture card information at ATMs or point-of-sale terminals, such as at gas pumps. Chargeback fraud False claims for chargebacks by consumers: False claims for chargebacks, also known as chargeback fraud or friendly fraud, occur when consumers falsely dispute legitimate transactions with their credit card companies to get a refund while keeping the purchased goods or services. This practice exploits the chargeback system, designed to protect consumers from unauthorized or fraudulent transactions, for personal gain. Account takeover attacks Account takeover attempts by criminals: Account takeover (ATO) attempts involve criminals gaining unauthorized access to online accounts, often through stolen or compromised credentials. This type of fraud can lead to financial losses, identity theft, and reputational damage for both individuals and organizations. Supplier, partner & seller fraud Supplier fraud by criminals: Supplier fraud, also known as vendor fraud, is a type of fraud where criminals deceive businesses by impersonating legitimate suppliers or creating fake ones to steal money. This can involve sending fraudulent invoices, diverting legitimate payments, or using stolen identities to appear as a genuine supplier. These schemes can be sophisticated, involving detailed research into a company's procurement processes and even insider collaboration. Refund abuse False claims for refunds by consumers: Also known as return abuse, refund abuse is when a customer requests and receives a refund for a purchase they claim was incomplete or unsatisfactory. In essence, they are taking advantage of the merchant's returns policy and goodwill in order to benefit. Promo, voucher & policy abuse Promo abuse by consumers: Promo abuse by consumers refers to the act of exploiting promotional offers beyond their intended use, often by creating fake accounts or using multiple accounts to repeatedly redeem discounts and bonuses. This can involve taking advantage of sign-up incentives, referral bonuses, loyalty discounts, and other promotions designed to attract new customers or reward existing ones. There is a need to re-establish Trust between Buyers and Sellers. Stablecoins vs. Fiat for E-commerce. Pros and Cons. Stablecoins Pros. Stablecoin transactions are significantly faster than traditional methods, often confirmed in seconds or minutes. This near-instantaneous settlement drastically reduces delays, especially for high-volume or international transactions, leading to improved fulfillment speeds and higher customer satisfaction. Operating on blockchain networks, stablecoin payments are available 24/7, bypassing the limitations of traditional banking hours and weekend closures. Reduced Transaction Costs and Fees (including cross-border) Stablecoin transaction fees are typically much lower compared to those incurred with traditional payment methods like credit cards or wire transfers. For instance, while credit/debit card processing fees can range from 2% to 3%, stablecoin transfers can incur nominal fees of a few cents. Shopify's integration of USDC offers merchants their standard Shopify Payments rate, but with a rebate of up to 0.50% on USDC orders and no additional fees for international transactions. Stablecoins can eliminate foreign exchange and multi-currency conversion fees, either by allowing merchants to receive funds in their local currency without extra charges or by enabling them to hold USDC directly. A key financial benefit for merchants is the elimination of chargeback risks due to the irreversible nature of blockchain transactions. This contributes to more consistent cash flow and simplified financial planning. Traditional e-commerce payment methods, especially credit cards, impose significant transaction fees (1.5% to 3.5% per transaction) and carry the risk of chargebacks, which directly impact profit margins and financial planning. Stablecoins offer much lower transaction fees (a fraction of traditional fees) and eliminate chargeback risks. Specific examples, such as Compass Coffee aiming to save 3.75% on credit card fees and Shopify offering rebates on USDC orders, quantify these potential savings. The direct and quantifiable reduction in operational costs (lower fees, no chargebacks) provides a powerful and immediate financial incentive for e-commerce merchants to adopt stablecoins. For businesses, these economic efficiencies can outweigh some of the current complexities or consumer adoption challenges, making stablecoins a strategic choice for optimizing financial operations. Expanded Global Reach and Financial Inclusion Stablecoins facilitate fast, borderless payments, effectively bypassing the complexities and uncertainties of fluctuating exchange rates and reducing overall transactional complexity. This capability significantly broadens a business's potential international market reach. They enable businesses to engage with a vast global audience of cryptocurrency users, estimated at over 400 million worldwide. Stablecoins offer a faster and more cost-effective solution for cross-border remittances, promoting greater financial inclusion for populations who are unbanked or underbanked, particularly in developing economies. Real-world examples include Mercado Libre using USDC to pay suppliers in Brazil and Mexico, which streamlined payments and reduced costs compared to traditional bank transfers. SpaceX also leverages stablecoins to repatriate funds from Starlink sales in countries with highly volatile local currencies, such as Argentina and Nigeria, demonstrating their utility for wealth preservation Cross-border payments and remittances through traditional fiat systems are often characterized by high fees (6-10% for remittances), slow settlement times (1-3 days), and limited accessibility, especially in developing economies with underdeveloped banking infrastructure. Stablecoins drastically cut remittance costs (to less than 1%), enable instant transfers, and provide USD-pegged stability in volatile markets. They offer a digital alternative for the unbanked, allowing for USD-denominated accounts globally. The impact of stablecoins extends beyond mere transactional efficiency; they are fundamentally reshaping financial access and economic resilience in emerging markets. By offering a stable, globally accessible digital currency, stablecoins provide a practical and often superior alternative to volatile local fiat currencies and expensive, slow traditional cross-border services. This empowers individuals and businesses in these regions to participate more effectively in the global digital economy, fostering financial inclusion and potentially driving grassroots economic growth by bypassing legacy banking bottlenecks. This points to a significant socio-economic transformation, not just a technological upgrade. Blockchain-Enabled Security and Transparency Payments conducted via stablecoins, leveraging blockchain technology, inherently provide a degree of transparency and enhanced fraud protection. Transactions are encrypted and verifiably recorded on an immutable public ledger. Issuers of stablecoins typically aim to provide transparency regarding the assets backing their tokens, which is intended to foster trust and confidence among users. For instance, Circle, the issuer of USDC, is known for providing monthly attestation reports from independent accounting firms, which enhances perceived transparency. While the underlying blockchain technology offers inherent transparency for transaction records, the actual transparency and trustworthiness of stablecoins, particularly fiat-backed ones, are not automatically guaranteed. They heavily depend on the issuer's commitment to verifiable proof of reserves and adherence to evolving regulatory standards. Research highlights "Transparency Concerns," noting that some stablecoin issuers have failed to provide sufficient proof of valid audits for their reserves, leading to a degree of mistrust. Recognizing this gap, regulatory bodies are increasingly demanding audited reserves. For example, the EU's Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA) specifically mandates that issuers of e-money tokens and asset-referenced tokens maintain reserves to fully back stablecoins, manage them properly, and ensure redeemability at face value. This suggests that "blockchain transparency" is a necessary but insufficient condition for overall stablecoin transparency; robust regulatory oversight and consistent, independent auditing of reserves are equally, if not more, critical for building widespread user confidence and mitigating systemic risks. Comparative Transaction Costs and Speeds: Comparative Transaction Costs and Speeds Stablecoins Cons: Consumer Protection: Fiat (credit card) vs. Stablecoin. It is obvious that stablecoin offers a great advantage in terms of transaction cost and speed will lag behind fiat in terms of fraud protection. It is therefore only natural to incorporate stablecoins into Pay with TRIO, thus offering unprecedented transaction cost, speed, and fraud protection for buyers and Sellers worldwide. Pay with TRIO offers:
