A small business owner pays an overseas graphic designer $800 per month. The international wire costs $45 in bank fees plus a currency conversion rate of around 3 percent. Roughly how much is lost to fees and spread on each payment?

The bank fee is $45. The currency conversion rate of 3 percent on $800 is $24. Together, that is $69 lost on a single $800 payment before the designer receives anything. Over twelve months, that is around $828 gone in fees and spread on an $800 monthly payment. A stablecoin transfer for the same amount would typically cost under $10 in total. The difference in costs is real and adds up quickly for businesses making regular international payments.