Stablecoins represent a fundamental shift in cross-border value transfer by collapsing the traditional multi-layered financial messaging system (SWIFT) and correspondent banking into a single-layer, blockchain-native settlement rail. Unlike fiat transactions, which rely on fragmented legacy infrastructure, stablecoins like USDC or USDT settle peer-to-peer in seconds using cryptographic verification, eliminating intermediaries, nostro accounts, and reconciliation delays.