The remittance tax already has an alternative: crypto and digital dollars are transforming how money is sent
In Mexico, remittances are a key source of income for millions of families. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, the country received 14,269 million dollars in remittances, a 1.3% annual increase. In this context, the United States is debating a proposal to apply a 3.5% tax on remittances sent from its territory to other countries. This possible regulatory change highlights the need to explore alternative mechanisms that are more efficient and accessible for sending money across borders.
In that context, cryptocurrencies, and especially stablecoins, are gaining ground as a viable and increasingly used alternative to transfer value globally, without the limitations of the traditional financial system. They are positioning themselves as a real alternative for the thousands of migrants who send money from the United States to their home countries. Not only as a way to avoid the proposed tax on cross-border transactions, but also as a way to significantly reduce the high fees traditionally charged to send and receive remittances.
At Orbi, we offer that alternative in Mexico. We let you receive digital dollars such as USDT or USDC, convert them instantly to Mexican pesos and use them right away with a virtual or physical card, with no bank account or intermediaries needed. What used to be a remittance can now become money that is available and usable instantly.
But why isn’t a crypto transfer considered a remittance?
A traditional remittance is processed through regulated financial institutions and is subject to various operational and tax rules. This usually means high fees, long settlement times and geographic limitations.
Cryptocurrencies, and in particular stablecoins such as USDT or USDC, instead allow value to move directly between people, without financial intermediaries, which opens new possibilities to send and receive money in a faster, more accessible way with more control for the user.
From a legal and operational perspective, stablecoin transfers are considered virtual asset transactions, not fiat money transactions. This sets them clearly apart from traditional remittances and gives them a different regulatory treatment. In addition, the current US government’s growing interest in regulating the crypto ecosystem favorably could open the door for this type of digital asset transaction, such as stablecoins, to even benefit from more flexible tax treatment.
Crypto as a way to move value faster and without barriers
Beyond the new tax, what is at stake is the right to move value freely, quickly and efficiently. At Orbi we promote a more open financial architecture, where users do not depend on traditional structures that can impose disproportionate costs.
While traditional remittances involve fees that usually range between 3% and 6% of the amount sent, crypto transactions, even considering the conversion cost and network fees, rarely exceed 2%. This difference means more money available for those who need it and greater efficiency for those sending value from abroad.
Stablecoins are not an evasion mechanism, but a technological evolution that enables new ways to transfer and manage value. Their use is fully compatible with a clear regulatory framework, although different from the one that governs traditional remittances.
