How migrants power the global economy

Cross-border payments should make it easier, fairer, and more empowering for people to support loved ones across borders. At Zepz, our mission is to enable people living and working abroad to send money home safely, affordably, and with confidence. These transfers fund education, healthcare, food, and housing – the building blocks of stability and opportunity for families and communities worldwide.

Recent policy discussions, such as proposals for a 1% remittance tax in the United States, risk overlooking what these payments truly represent. Remittances are not optional; they are essential. Even small cost increases can have real consequences, less food on the table, fewer children in school, or delayed healthcare. Policies designed without understanding this reality can unintentionally work against the very people who keep economies moving. And the scale of their contribution tells its own story. World Bank data shows that African countries received more than $92 billion in remittances in 2024, over three times the value of foreign aid. In Latin America and the Caribbean, flows reached around $161 billion, accounting for up to 20% of GDP in some countries. These funds keep local economies running, supporting small businesses, jobs, and access to essential services.

Cross-border communities are economic agents, not political talking points. United Nations estimates indicate that around 280 million people live and work outside their country of birth. They fill essential roles, pay taxes, and strengthen both their host and home economies. Each transfer is an act of responsibility and resilience, and together they represent one of the most stable and high-impact capital flows in the world. Keeping digital channels affordable and accessible is therefore a matter of economic policy, not just convenience. When legitimate services become more expensive or restricted, people may turn to informal channels that lack safety and transparency.

Innovation will also shape the future of remittances. Regulated digital-dollar solutions such as USDC can make transfers faster, lower-cost, and more resilient to local currency volatility. But technology alone is not the answer. Real progress will depend on thoughtful policy, responsible innovation, and cooperation across governments, regulators, and the financial industry.
Because every remittance carries more than money. It carries care, commitment, and connection, the quiet infrastructure of resilience that powers communities across the world. As an industry, we share a responsibility to preserve this lifeline through fair pricing and forward-looking innovation, so that sending money home remains an act of dignity, not difficulty.