# Breaking News: iFX EXPO 2026 Panel Reveals Critical Shifts in Cross-Border Payment Infrastructure
Payment industry leaders convened at iFX EXPO International 2026 in Limassol, Cyprus this June to address the urgent question of which monetary systems will dominate global payment rails. The Money Wars panel featured Baskar Subramanian, CEO of Mobi, and Kristin Reischel, Senior Director at Rapyd, examining the commercial viability of fiat, Bitcoin, and stablecoins.
The consensus is clear: fiat remains dominant domestically but faces severe limitations in cross-border transactions due to correspondent banking delays, FX spreads, and settlement gaps during non-business hours. Bitcoin, despite its original peer-to-peer vision, has evolved into a store of value rather than a practical payment mechanism. Subramanian emphasized that Bitcoin’s price volatility makes it commercially unviable for money transmission services, even at basis point fluctuations.
The panel signals growing pressure on traditional cross-border infrastructure as businesses demand real-time settlement regardless of underlying technology. Traders and fintech operators should anticipate accelerated adoption of alternative rails beyond correspondent banking networks.
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FXnCO Insight
** Payment service providers relying on legacy correspondent banking for cross-border flows face immediate competitive pressure to integrate faster settlement alternatives or risk margin erosion.
Source: Finance Magnates