In this last eipsode of The Asuncion Times series about stablecoins in Paraguay, picture María: a Paraguayan living in Madrid who sends part of her salary to her father José in Asunción every month. At the start of this series, we introduced stablecoins as digital tokens built to track the value of a currency, most often the US dollar. The series journey so far has shown both sides: the promise of faster, cheaper remittances, and the caution that comes with rules and risks. This fourth and final article brings everything together through María’s fictional story about a stablecoin transfer.
Two paths: using an exchange, or your own wallet
A stablecoin transfer can flow through a crypto exchange (CEX) such as Binance, Kraken or the local platform X4T, or through a self-custody wallet like MetaMask or Trust Wallet. Exchanges feel familiar – account, login, ID checks – and they handle a lot in the background. The self-custody path skips registration and gives full control to the user, along with full responsibility for security.
Option 1: through an exchange
María begins with the familiar route: an exchange app, similar to any other financial app on her phone. After signing up and proving her identity, she links her Spanish bank card to add euros. Inside the app she buys a stablecoin, usually Tether (USDT) or USD Coin (USDC).
Next comes a choice of network. With traditional money you rarely notice the rails: your bank uses one system in the background. Stablecoins can move across several systems, different blockchains. They deliver the same coin, but the speed and costs vary. Ethereum (ERC-20) is the oldest and widely supported, but can have higher fees during peak times. Tron (TRC-20) is popular for remittances because stablecoin transfers usually cost less than a cent. BNB Smart Chain (BEP-20) also keeps fees low, typically a few cents. Solana (SPL) is known for speed, settling payments in seconds with tiny costs.
When she withdraws, María pastes José’s wallet address – like a digital account number – and selects the matching network. A Tron payment sent to an Ethereum address, for example, would not arrive. As with a bank transfer, she checks carefully; one wrong character can send the money elsewhere with no way to reverse it. Many users first send a small test amount, then the rest.
Moments later, José sees the USDT in his wallet. From there he can keep it as digital dollars, or convert it into Paraguayan guaraníes through local brokers or peer-to-peer platforms, paying only the small fees those services normally charge.
Option 2: with a self-custody wallet
Instead of opening an exchange account, María can keep full control by installing a wallet app such as MetaMask or Trust Wallet. On setup she receives a seed phrase – 12 or 24 random words – the master key to her digital safe. If she loses it, she loses access; if anyone else gets it, they can take the funds.
To load her wallet, María buys stablecoins inside the app with her Spanish bank card via a built-in payment service. Here she chooses not only the coin, but also the network (for example, USDT on Tron); the funds arrive on that network. This route is quick and avoids opening an exchange account, though card on-ramp fees are often higher than funding an exchange by bank transfer.
From there, sending to José is simple: she taps “Send”, pastes his address, and uses the same network she selected earlier. On Tron or Solana the transfer costs less than a cent; on Ethereum it can be several dollars when traffic is high. Moments later, José sees the coins in his wallet. He converts them to guaraníes through a local exchange and withdraws the funds to his bank account. With the guaraníes, he buys groceries for his family and a VIP Membership from The Asunción Times to discover Asunción’s best local spots.
Practical reminders
As María sends her first stablecoin transfers, a few lessons stand out. Always double-check the address and network; sending USDT on Ethereum to a Tron address means the funds are lost for good. Consider sending a small test amount first to confirm everything matches.
With a self-custody wallet, María is her own bank. The seed phrase and private keys are her only way back in, so never store them online or share them. Fees change depending on the blockchain and the exchange. Always check withdrawal or conversion costs before moving funds into guaraníes. Finally, use trusted local exchanges or brokers to avoid scams or high costs when converting to guaraníes.
Closing The Asunción Times stablecoins series
With María’s story, our four-part series on stablecoins in Paraguay comes to an end. We hope this has made a complex subject both clearer and more engaging, from the basics of what stablecoins are to the risks, regulations, and real-world uses in Paraguay.
If you have found it useful, we would love to hear from you: are there other crypto or finance topics you would like us to unpack in the same way? Email editor@asunciontimes.com, and who knows; if the demand is there, you might shape our next series!
About the author:
Stijn McAdam is an independent analyst focusing on finance, technology, and geopolitics. A former military and law enforcement officer turned entrepreneur and global investor, he writes about markets, sovereignty, and global shifts in power. He is the author of Fit & Free, Crypto from Scratch, and Trade Smart, and regularly shares insights at stijnmcadam.com.
Episode 1: A Beginner’s Overview Of Stablecoins For Paraguay.
Episode 2: Can Stablecoins Lower Remittance Costs For Paraguay?
Episode 3: Navigating The Risks And Rules For Stablecoins In Paraguay.
