Hiring remote talent in Latin America has become a competitive advantage. From developers in Argentina to marketers in Mexico, LATAM offers highly skilled professionals at affordable rates, in overlapping time zones.
But paying them?
That’s where things get tricky.
Between banking delays, high fees, and complex compliance requirements, US and Canadian companies often struggle with LATAM contractor payouts.
Here’s how to do it the right way – and how Yativo simplifies the entire process.
Why Paying LATAM Contractors Is So Difficult
If you’ve tried sending payments to LATAM before, you’ve likely run into:
❌ Expensive Wire Fees
SWIFT transfers can cost $25–$50 per transaction, and banks often charge hidden FX markups.
❌ Slow Settlement
Transfers can take 3-7 business days. Worse, they often fail due to missing or mismatched local bank details.
❌ Currency Volatility
Your contractor expects $1,000 USD. They receive $940 in local currency after fees and exchange rate losses.
❌ Lack of Transparency
No visibility into when funds will arrive. No webhook. No real-time status updates.
The Better Way: Local Bank Payouts with Stablecoin Settlement
Platforms like Yativo allow US and Canadian businesses to pay contractors across Latin America instantly, using stablecoins (USDC/USDT) as the funding layer – and local bank rails for settlement.
You don’t need to:
- Open a local bank account
- Register a foreign entity
- Work with multiple PSPs per country
Everything works through a single API or dashboard.
How It Works (Step-by-Step)
1. You Fund in USD or USDC/USDT
You can deposit:
- USDC/USDT via Ethereum, Solana, or Polygon
- Or generate a USD virtual account and fund it with ACH/FEDWIRE
2. Submit Payout Instructions
Specify your contractor’s country, name, and bank account or payment method. Supported countries include:
- Brazil (Pix)
- Mexico (SPEI)
- Argentina (CBU/ALIAS)
- Colombia (Nequi, Daviplata, bank accounts)
- Chile
- Peru
- Panama
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- …and more
3. Yativo Converts & Settles Locally
- Yativo handles FX conversion to local currency (e.g. MXN, BRL, ARS)
- Validates recipient data (e.g. CPF in Brazil, CLABE in Mexico)
- Sends the payout using instant local rails
- Confirms delivery via webhook or dashboard
4. Your Contractor Gets Paid
Funds are received in local currency, directly into their bank account or mobile wallet – typically within minutes, not days.
Real-World Example
You: A startup in Austin paying a Brazilian designer $800/month
Your contractor: Wants to receive in BRL to their Nubank account
With Yativo:
- You fund $800 in USDC
- Submit the payout via API or dashboard
- Yativo converts to BRL and settles via Pix
- Your contractor receives the payment in under 2 minutes
- You both get a record of the transaction
Why Yativo Works for US & Canadian Companies
| Problem | Yativo Solves It |
|---|---|
| High wire fees | Fund with stablecoins or USD for lower fees |
| Settlement delays | Real-time local payouts (Pix, SPEI, etc.) |
| FX risk | Transparent conversion at competitive rates |
| Compliance burden | Built-in KYC and AML verification |
| Developer tools | REST API, dashboard, and webhooks |
Who It’s For
- ✅ Startups hiring LATAM engineers or designers
- ✅ Agencies paying freelancers across multiple countries
- ✅ Remote-first teams managing global payroll
- ✅ Crypto-native companies offering off-ramps to local bank accounts
- ✅ Multinationals moving money across the globe
Final Thoughts
If you’re based in the US or Canada and hiring in Latin America, there’s no reason to rely on slow wires or expensive platforms with poor FX rates.
With Yativo, you can send payments from your USD or stablecoin wallet, settle instantly to local accounts, and keep your contractors happy – without needing to open a local entity.
👉 Explore Yativo Checkouts & Payouts
👉 Talk to our team to automate LATAM contractor payments