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International Trade & Import/Export Payments

How importers and exporters are using stablecoins to eliminate trade finance friction and accelerate global commerce.

Global Reach

Pay suppliers in 190+ countries instantly without correspondent banking delays

Instant Settlement

Settle trade payments in minutes instead of 3-5 business days

Zero FX Fees

Eliminate 2-4% foreign exchange markups on international payments

Faster Shipping

Suppliers ship immediately upon payment confirmation

The International Trade Payment Problem

Traditional trade finance is broken. Importers and exporters face significant friction that slows commerce and increases costs:

Wire transfer delays:3-5 business days for international payments to clear
Hidden FX costs:Banks add 2-4% markup on currency conversion
Correspondent banking:Multiple intermediaries each take a cut ($25-50 per hop)
Payment uncertainty:Suppliers don't ship until payment clears, adding days to delivery
Letter of credit costs:1-3% of transaction value plus bank fees

Cost Analysis: $100,000 Import Payment

Payment Cost Comparison

Cost CategoryTraditional WireMoneta
Wire transfer fee$45$0
Correspondent bank fees$75$0
FX markup (2.5%)$2,500$0
Network fees$0~$2
Settlement time3-5 daysMinutes
Total Cost$2,620$2

Savings per transaction: $2,618 (99.9%)

How Stablecoin Trade Payments Work

1

Supplier Sends Invoice

Your supplier sends an invoice with their stablecoin wallet address. They can accept USDT, USDC, or any of 400+ supported stablecoins.

Example: Factory in Vietnam sends invoice for $50,000 worth of goods with their USDT address
2

Instant Payment

You send stablecoins from your Moneta treasury. The payment arrives in the supplier's wallet within minutes, not days.

Example: Send 50,000 USDT → Supplier receives it in 2 minutes → Shipping begins immediately
3

On-Chain Proof

Every transaction is recorded on the blockchain, providing immutable proof of payment for customs, audits, and dispute resolution.

Example: Transaction hash serves as payment receipt for customs documentation

Trade Payment Use Cases

Manufacturing Imports

Pay overseas factories for raw materials, components, or finished goods without waiting for wire transfers to clear.

  • Faster production starts
  • Better supplier relationships
  • Reduced inventory holding costs

Commodity Trading

Settle commodity purchases instantly, reducing counterparty risk and enabling faster trade cycles.

  • Instant settlement
  • Reduced counterparty risk
  • 24/7 trading capability

Export Receivables

Receive payment from international buyers instantly, improving cash flow and reducing DSO.

  • Immediate payment confirmation
  • No more waiting for wires
  • Better working capital

Trade Finance

Replace expensive letters of credit with smart contract escrow for secure trade transactions.

  • Programmable escrow
  • Automated release conditions
  • Lower fees than LC

Case Study: Electronics Importer

A US-based electronics distributor importing from suppliers in China, Taiwan, and Vietnam switched to stablecoin payments:

Monthly Import Volume
$2.5M across 15 suppliers
Previous Payment Method
International wire transfers
Previous Monthly Costs
$65,000 (fees + FX)
Current Monthly Costs
$50 (network fees)
$780,000annual savings
4 days fasteraverage shipping
100%supplier adoption

Getting Started

1

Set up your treasury

Create a Moneta account and fund your treasury with stablecoins

2

Onboard your suppliers

Help suppliers set up wallets to receive stablecoin payments

3

Start with a pilot

Test with one supplier before rolling out to your entire supply chain

4

Scale globally

Expand to all suppliers and enjoy the cost savings

Ready to Transform Your Trade Payments?

Join hundreds of importers and exporters who have eliminated wire transfer fees and accelerated their supply chains with Moneta.

Contact our trade finance team