How small businesses are solving cross-border frictions with crypto and how Yativo supports them
When Latin American and African small-medium enterprises (SMEs) pay suppliers or receive cross-border revenue, they face challenges: weak banking rails, limited access to U.S. dollars, volatile local currencies, and high remittance costs. The solution? Increasingly, stablecoins.
Here’s why emerging-market SMEs are adopting crypto rails. and how Yativo helps them tap into these flows safely and efficiently.
🌍 Stablecoins Aren’t Just for Crypto Traders
According to Fireblocks’ State of Stablecoins 2025 report, stablecoins accounted for nearly half of all transaction volume on its platform in 2024, representing about 15% of global stablecoin volume
In Latin America specifically, 71% of payments providers say cross-border flows are their primary use case for stablecoins, well above the global average of 49%. That data underscores how businesses are already shifting away from wiring USD via banks and toward token-based rails.
Fireblocks processed $1.5 trillion in stablecoin transactions in 2024, with 10–15% of all global USDC and USDT flows routed via its network, serving fintechs, PSPs, and import-export businesses in LATAM, Africa, and Asia.
📊 SMEs Are Adopting Real Business Use Cases
Companies like Conduit, powering emerging-market B2B payments in LATAM and Africa, report strong momentum: SMEs across Nigeria, Kenya, Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil are now using stablecoins for supplier payouts, receivables, and treasury buffers. These small businesses see stablecoins not as speculative tools, but as useful payment rails.
And it’s working. Fireblocks’ survey found that nearly 90% of institutions have stablecoin programs active, piloting, or planned and most cite growth and liquidity control as top motivators, more so than cost savings.
Local value propositions like currency substitution and hedge against inflation boost SMB adoption, even in countries with volatile currencies or weak banking infrastructure.
💡 Why SMEs Prefer Stablecoins
| Pain Point | How Stablecoins Help |
|---|---|
| FX & conversion delays | Instant settlement via USDT/USDC rails |
| Banking frictions by counterparties | Payouts to crypto-native brokers or virtual wallets |
| Domestic currency depreciation | Retain value in USD-pegged tokens |
| Cross-border cost barriers (high fees, wire delays) | Fast transfers with minimal fees via token rails |
| Compliance overhead | Platforms like Yativo manage AML, FX, and liquidity |
These tangible benefits explain why growing SMEs in LATAm and Africa aren’t just experimenting, they’re operationalizing stablecoins.
🔁 How Yativo Enables Stablecoin Trade Flows
Yativo is built to support SMEs executing stablecoin-powered trade flows end-to-end, without requiring crypto familiarity or legal entities across borders. Here’s how:
- Local Currency Onramp: SMEs in Chile, Brazil, or Mexico fund their Yativo accounts in CLP, BRL, or MXN via local rails.
- Convert to Stablecoins: On-platform FX converts balances into compliant USDC or USDT.
- Payout Execution: Yativo routes token transactions to recipient wallets or broker addresses in China, Asia, or within Africa.
- Local Settlement: Offramp partners convert stablecoins into recipient local currencies (CNY, NGN, KES, etc.) and pay out via WeChat, bank transfer, or local mobile money.
- Tracking & Compliance: Every transaction includes metadata, FX logs, and reconciliation tools accessible via API and dashboard.
Yativo thus makes stablecoin usage safe, legal, trackable, and built for cross-border B2B trade flows.
📈 Real-Life Benefits for SMEs
Fast, Transparent, and Cost-Efficient
- Speed over legacy rails: Stablecoin-based payouts take minutes to hours—not days.
- Transparent FX: Real-time rates, no hidden banking margins.
- Low cost: Platforms avoid intermediary wire fees; token fees are negligible.
- Resilience: SMEs can hold USD-pegged liquidity even if local currency loses value.
Scale without complexity
- Yativo handles regulation, liquidity, and routing so SMEs can focus on operations.
- There’s no need to onboard suppliers to crypto wallets; contracts can include token payouts yet recipients receive local currency.
Growth potential
- Access to fast global settlement lowers barriers to new trade corridors, new suppliers, and new markets, benefits echoed by Visa’s positioning that stablecoin momentum grows fastest in underserved emerging economies.
🧭 Final Thoughts: Filling a Critical Gap
SMEs in LatAm and Africa are often underserved by traditional correspondent banking networks. Stablecoins offer speed, lower costs, and operational flexibility. Now, with platforms like Yativo, they’ve become accessible and compliant for real-world trade flows.
If you’re running an import-export business, disruptive e-commerce platform, or cross-border service provider in emerging markets, it’s time to consider:
- Taking stablecoin rails seriously
- Choosing regulated platforms like Yativo that handle On-/Off-ramp, FX, compliance, and reconciliation
- Embracing payments as a driver of growth, liquidity, and trust
👉 To explore how Yativo can support your stablecoin trade flows, talk to our team.