Why High-Risk PSPs in Colombia & Mexico Are Switching to Stablecoin APIs (Case Studies Included)

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Jul 27, 2025

High-risk payment service providers in Colombia and Mexico face significant hurdles: high chargeback rates, strict compliance demands, and the limitations of legacy cross-border payment systems. To overcome these challenges, many PSPs are now adopting stablecoin APIs as a way to modernize operations and stay competitive. According to a 2024 Fireblocks report, all surveyed Latin American institutions are either live, piloting, or planning stablecoin payment strategies, with 92% stating their API infrastructure is ready for integration (Fireblocks, 2024).

This article explores what’s driving this shift, the compliance realities, and real-world results from leading fintechs.

Chargeback-heavy sectors need faster, lower-cost settlement rails.
Stablecoin APIs cut fees and accelerate payouts across 170+ countries.
Regulatory sandboxes in Colombia and Mexico let PSPs test innovations safely.
Case studies show up to 70% faster payouts and 35% cost savings.

What Makes a PSP “High-Risk” in Colombia & Mexico?

High-risk payment service providers process transactions in industries like online gaming, adult entertainment, and travel—sectors known for higher chargeback rates or additional regulatory scrutiny. In Mexico, the average chargeback rate is 2.81%, with gaming and adult entertainment reporting rates of 2% and 3.5% respectively, far exceeding the US average of 0.47% (Clearly Payments, 2024; SeamlessChex, 2024).

These higher risk profiles mean PSPs in these sectors face greater operational hurdles and compliance costs.

Authorities like Colombia’s SFC and Mexico’s Banxico closely monitor high-risk payment sectors, adding another layer of regulatory scrutiny to PSP operations. For PSPs in Colombia and Mexico, this means continuously updating payments infrastructure, keeping up with new regulations, and managing fraud and dispute challenges.

For a deeper dive into compliance requirements, see our KYC & Tax Rules for Stablecoin Payments in Mexico.

Why Stablecoin APIs? Key Drivers for High-Risk PSPs

Stablecoin APIs are gaining traction as a solution for high-risk PSPs seeking speed, cost reduction, and greater operational agility. In fact, 71% of Latin American financial institutions cite cross-border payments as the main reason for stablecoin integration.

These APIs allow for straightforward integration of stablecoin transactions into existing payment flows, reducing reliance on slow and expensive traditional rails.

Here’s why stablecoin APIs are a game changer:

Cost Savings: Airtm’s USDC payouts have helped businesses achieve approximately 35% cost savings compared to traditional payment methods (Mural Pay Blog, 2024).
Faster Settlement: A virtual assistant agency in Argentina reduced payout times by 70% after switching to batch payments via Mural Pay (Mural Pay Blog, 2024).
Inclusion & Reach: Stablecoins can provide access to digital payments for unbanked and underbanked populations in Latin America.

According to Fireblocks, all Latin American institutions surveyed are moving toward stablecoin payment strategies, with most reporting API infrastructure readiness (Fireblocks, 2024).

For more on the benefits, see our Stablecoin Pay-Ins vs. Pay-Outs: Which Is Cheaper for Colombian PSPs?.

Regulatory Realities—Navigating Compliance in Colombia & Mexico

It’s a question every PSP faces: How do you adopt innovative payment tech while staying compliant with complex, changing regulations?

The answer often comes down to strong AML and KYC procedures, participation in regulatory sandboxes, and close collaboration with financial authorities. Colombia’s regulatory sandbox, La Arenera, provides a controlled environment for PSPs to test stablecoin solutions under direct regulatory oversight.

In Colombia, the Financial Superintendence (SFC) fined fintechs over $1.5 million USD for non-compliance in 2023 (Mural Pay Blog, 2024). Catalina Gutiérrez, Director of the Fintech Colombia Association, notes, “Regulatory clarity and compliance are the top challenges for batch payment adoption among Colombian fintechs” (Mural Pay Blog, 2024).

Mexico’s Fintech Law and Banxico’s oversight require PSPs to obtain authorization and implement rigorous AML/CTF protocols. As Victoria Rodríguez Ceja, Governor of Banxico, states, “Modern regulation is crucial to guarantee consumer protection while fostering sector growth” (Mural Pay Blog, 2024).

For a compliance checklist, see our USD Virtual Accounts for Mexican Exporters: Compliance Checklist.

How Stablecoin APIs Transform Cross-Border Payments

The integration of stablecoin APIs has transformed cross-border payments for high-risk PSPs in Colombia and Mexico.

API Integration: PSPs connect their existing payment platforms with stablecoin APIs, enabling real-time digital transactions.
Batch Payments: Platforms like Mural Pay allow for batch transactions, streamlining payroll and vendor payments.
Settlement Speed: Cross-border payment volumes in Colombia grew 29% year-over-year in 2023, with batch payments accounting for 41% of all B2B transactions (Mural Pay Blog, 2024).

A virtual assistant agency in Argentina reduced payout times by 70% after switching to stablecoin batch payouts (Mural Pay Blog, 2024).

Automated reconciliation features further reduce the manual tracking burden for operations teams.

Compliance Monitoring: Automated tools help confirm every transaction meets regulatory standards.

For a technical guide, see our API-First Stablecoin Payouts: Architecture Blueprint for Mexican PSPs.

Emerging Stablecoin Corridors in LATAM

As stablecoin adoption accelerates, new stablecoin corridors—particularly between Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina—are opening fresh revenue streams for PSPs. By pairing instant MXN payouts with local COP settlements, platforms can provide multi-currency options without opening multiple bank accounts.

For high-risk operators, these corridors reduce conversion steps and support faster treasury reconciliation across diverse markets, laying groundwork for broader API-driven services like multi-currency accounts and on-demand FX.

Case Study Cluster—Stablecoin API Adoption in Action

Airtm (LATAM): Enabled businesses to realize approximately 35% cost savings through USDC payouts compared to traditional methods.

Mural Pay (Argentina/Colombia): Helped a virtual assistant agency cut payout times by 70% with stablecoin batch payments.

These cases show that integrating stablecoin APIs delivers tangible value—faster payments, significant cost savings, and operational scalability.

For more examples, see our Batch Stablecoin Payouts: How Colombian Fintechs Can Pay 100+ Contractors in Minutes.

Key Risks, Challenges & Best Practices for PSPs

It’s tempting to think that stablecoin APIs are a cure-all, but regulatory uncertainty and operational risks remain. While stablecoins are designed to hold value, unforeseen regulatory shifts or market events can introduce operational or liquidity risks.

In 2023, Colombia’s SFC imposed over $1.5 million USD in fines on fintech companies for compliance lapses (Mural Pay Blog, 2024).

Catalina Gutiérrez notes, “Regulatory clarity and compliance are the top challenges for batch payment adoption among Colombian fintechs.”

Best Practices:

Stay current with changing AML/KYC requirements.
Leverage regulatory sandboxes to pilot new offerings.
Partner with reputable stablecoin providers and maintain strong compliance monitoring.

For a detailed risk and compliance discussion, see our Best Practices for Stablecoin-to-Fiat API Integration in Colombia.

The Future of High-Risk PSPs—Market Trends & What’s Next

Industry leaders anticipate continued growth and innovation in stablecoin APIs across Latin America. Over 70% of Colombian fintechs plan to offer stablecoin payment options by 2025, reflecting a market-wide shift (Mural Pay Blog, 2024).

As Victoria Rodríguez Ceja of Banxico emphasizes, “We must revolutionize financial services to make them faster, cheaper, and more accessible to everyone. Modern regulation is crucial to guarantee consumer protection while fostering sector growth.”

With 92% of institutions reporting readiness for API integration (Fireblocks, 2024), the groundwork is set for high-risk PSPs to scale digital payouts and unlock new business models.

Recent trends show increasing partnerships between traditional banks and crypto companies, indicating stablecoins are moving toward mainstream acceptance across the region.

For a regional analysis, see our Colombia vs Mexico: Which Country Is Winning on Stablecoin Adoption?.

Frequently Asked Questions—Stablecoin APIs for High-Risk PSPs

Q: What percentage of PSPs plan to adopt stablecoin APIs in the next year?
A: Over 70% of Colombian fintechs, and 100% of surveyed LATAM institutions, are live, piloting, or planning stablecoin payment strategies (Fireblocks, 2024; Mural Pay Blog, 2024).

Q: How do stablecoin APIs impact compliance efforts?
A: Automated compliance tools integrated with APIs support rigorous AML/KYC monitoring, helping PSPs reduce the risk of fines and streamline audits.

Q: What operational improvements can PSPs expect?
A: PSPs have reported up to 70% reductions in payout times and cost savings as high as 35% compared to legacy payment methods.

For more answers, visit our Glossary.

Interested in testing stablecoin payouts for your own platform? Contact Mural Pay to get access to a sandbox account and see how quickly you can spin up cross-border payments.