Crypto vs. Traditional Finance: Speed, Cost & Access Compared
One of blockchain's core propositions is improving upon legacy financial infrastructure — reducing settlement times from days to seconds and cutting cross-border fees from double digits to near zero.
| Metric | Traditional | Blockchain |
|---|---|---|
| Settlement time | T+1 (US), T+2 (UK/EU) | <10 sec (L2) |
| Wire transfer fee | $15–$50 | $0.01–$1 |
| Remittance fee | 5–7% | <1% |
| Bank hours | 9–5 weekdays | 24/7/365 |
| Account required | Yes (KYC) | No (wallet) |
| Audit transparency | Private | Public |
Indicative figures — varies by network and provider. US equities settle T+1 since 28 May 2024 (SEC Rule 15c6-1); UK and EU markets remain T+2. ⚠️ Not financial advice.
