International Remittances with the DePix App
Sending money abroad from Brazil always means giving something up. Through a bank, you pay steep fees and wait days. Through fintechs, it is faster and cheaper — but every transaction is logged, tracked, and available for review. For anyone who values financial privacy and sovereignty, neither option truly solves the problem.
The DePix App offers a different path: you convert Brazilian reais into digital assets via Pix and move value anywhere in the world through the Liquid Network — without banking intermediaries, without bureaucracy, and most importantly, without exposing your transactions to the traditional financial system. And there is one concrete advantage that hits your wallet directly: you do not pay IOF (Brazil’s tax on financial operations, which adds 3.5% to every outbound remittance).
In this guide, we will walk through how this route works in practice, compare costs honestly, and share the tips you need to make it as efficient as possible.
What you actually pay on a traditional remittance
To understand where DePix stands out, you need to see the real cost of a conventional remittance — and most people do not realize how much they are losing.
Traditional banks charge a combination of fees that adds up quickly:
- IOF at 3.5% on the remittance value (for personal account transfers abroad)
- Flat fee from the originating bank (typically R$ 50 to R$ 150)
- Exchange rate spread of 2% to 4% baked into the quoted rate
- Possible intermediary and destination bank fees
On a R$ 5,000 (approximately US$ 900) remittance, the IOF alone costs R$ 175. Add the spread, the flat fee, and intermediary charges: you can easily lose R$ 400 to R$ 500. On top of that, the process requires documentation, may have restrictive limits, and takes 1 to 5 business days.
Fintech remittance services (such as Wise, Remessa Online, etc.) have significantly improved the experience. They are faster, more practical, and generally cheaper than banks. But let us be honest: these platforms also charge IOF (even if at lower rates in some cases), apply a spread, and require full identity verification. Every transaction is recorded and linked to your tax ID.
If your only criteria are lowest cost and maximum convenience, fintechs can be a good option. But if privacy matters to you — and for our users, it matters above all else — the equation changes.
Why the DePix route is different
The DePix App works as a bridge between Pix (Brazil’s instant payment system) and the Liquid Network. When you deposit reais via Pix, you receive DePix — a stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the Brazilian real — in your Liquid wallet. From there, you can access the entire Liquid Network ecosystem and convert your reais into digital dollars (USDt) or Bitcoin (L-BTC) without depending on any bank.
The fundamental advantages of this route:
No IOF: since the operation is a digital asset purchase via Pix (not a foreign exchange remittance), the 3.5% IOF does not apply. This alone can represent significant savings.
Transaction privacy: once the value enters the Liquid Network, transactions are confidential — amounts and destinations are encrypted. No external observer can see how much you are moving within the network.
Sovereignty over your money: you control your keys, your assets stay in your wallet. No bank can block, question, or freeze your movements.
No bureaucracy: sign up with just an email — no KYC, no income verification, no need to declare the purpose of the transfer.
It is important to note: the DePix App itself is not an international remittance service. It is the gateway into the crypto ecosystem, and the international movement of value happens within that ecosystem.
Honest cost comparison: R$ 5,000 abroad
Let us put the numbers on the table for a R$ 5,000 remittance.
Traditional bank:
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| IOF (3.5%) | R$ 175.00 |
| Bank flat fee | R$ 50 to R$ 150 |
| Exchange rate spread (2-4%) | R$ 100 to R$ 200 |
| Intermediary fees | R$ 0 to R$ 80 |
| Estimated total | R$ 325 to R$ 605 |
| Timeframe | 1 to 5 business days |
Fintech (e.g., Wise, Remessa Online):
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| IOF (1.1% to 3.5%) | R$ 55 to R$ 175 |
| Service fee (1-2%) | R$ 50 to R$ 100 |
| Spread (smaller, but exists) | R$ 10 to R$ 50 |
| Estimated total | R$ 115 to R$ 325 |
| Timeframe | Minutes to 2 business days |
DePix route (done correctly):
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| IOF | R$ 0 |
| DePix deposit (2% + R$ 0.99) | R$ 101.99 |
| Swap DePix → USDt (SideSwap) | ~R$ 25 to R$ 50 |
| Off-ramp at destination (varies) | ~R$ 25 to R$ 75 |
| Estimated total | R$ 150 to R$ 230 |
| Timeframe | Up to 24h (deposit) + minutes |
The DePix route is consistently cheaper than banks and competitive with fintechs — especially when you factor in the IOF you are not paying. For larger or recurring remittances, the IOF savings compound significantly.
The gap with fintechs narrows when the off-ramp at the destination has higher costs. But even when costs are similar, you gain something no fintech offers: privacy.
Step by step: sending value abroad
Step 1: Deposit reais via Pix through the DePix App. Go to depixapp.com, enter the amount, and pay the generated Pix QR code. Your DePix will be sent to your Liquid wallet (such as SideSwap) within 24 hours. The fee is 2% + R$ 0.99. Minimum R$ 5, maximum R$ 6,000 per day.
Step 2: Swap DePix for USDt or L-BTC on SideSwap. Open SideSwap, go to the swap function, and exchange your DePix for the asset you need. For remittances, USDt (digital dollars) is the most practical choice. SideSwap shows you the rate and fee before confirming.
Step 3: Send to the recipient or off-ramp. If the recipient has a Liquid wallet, send directly — the transaction confirms in about two minutes with near-zero fees. If the value needs to reach a bank account or another network, use one of the off-ramp services listed below.
Pro tips: how to minimize costs
The difference between a cheap and expensive remittance is in the details. Follow these tips:
1. Avoid unnecessary bridges. Every bridge between networks (Liquid → Ethereum, Liquid → Tron, etc.) charges a fee. If possible, find an off-ramp that accepts assets directly on the Liquid Network, or on networks with low fees.
2. Time your swaps. The DePix/USDt rate on SideSwap fluctuates throughout the day. For larger amounts, it is worth monitoring and executing when the spread is lower.
3. Batch your deposits. The R$ 0.99 flat fee per deposit is small, but if you make many small deposits, it adds up proportionally. Prefer depositing the daily maximum (R$ 6,000) and making fewer transactions.
4. Choose the right off-ramp for the destination country. Each region has more efficient options. See the section below.
5. Consider spending directly in crypto. If the end goal is not necessarily receiving local currency in a bank account, crypto cards and gift cards can eliminate the off-ramp cost entirely.
How to off-ramp at the destination
This step makes or breaks the total cost. There are several options, and the best one depends on where the recipient is and what they need to do with the money.
Direct payout to a bank account
Services that convert crypto to local currency and deposit directly into the recipient’s account:
Kast Global Payouts: sends to bank accounts in 200+ countries, supporting local rails (SEPA, ACH, SPEI, Pix, and more) in 15+ currencies. Conversion is done from stablecoins and the deposit is instant in many destinations. FX fee of 2% for non-USD transactions.
Chimera Wallet: excellent option for the Eurozone. Offers on-ramp and off-ramp with SEPA support, allowing conversion from crypto to euros and direct deposit into a European bank account. Access at app.chimerawallet.com.
Global exchanges (Binance, Kraken, Coinbase): the recipient can receive the assets, sell on the exchange, and withdraw to a local account. Kraken charges just €1 for SEPA withdrawals. Binance withdrawal fees range from $1 to $15 depending on currency and method. Coinbase offers free USDC off-ramp via ACH in the US.
P2P (Binance P2P, Paxful): the recipient sells crypto directly to local buyers, with 800+ payment methods available. Fees range from 0% to 0.2%. A good option in countries where traditional exchanges do not support local currency withdrawals.
Crypto cards
Instead of converting to local currency, the recipient can spend directly using a Visa/Mastercard loaded with stablecoins:
- Kast Card: Visa card that accepts stablecoins, with 0% fee on USD purchases and up to 6% cashback. Works at 150 million merchants in 170+ countries. For non-USD purchases, the FX fee is 2%.
Learn more about all options in our complete guide to crypto cards.
Gift cards and prepaid vouchers
Another way to “use” the value at the destination without a bank off-ramp: buy gift cards for stores, services, and global platforms directly with crypto. Amazon, Uber, Netflix, Steam, and hundreds more. No KYC, no bank account, no trail.
See the full guide: Gift cards and privacy shopping.
Bridge to other networks
If the recipient needs assets on another blockchain (Ethereum, Tron, Polygon, etc.), services like P2P.Land and BrSwap.me bridge from the Liquid Network to other networks. From there, the recipient can use any off-ramp compatible with the destination network.
Privacy: the advantage no fintech offers
In a bank or fintech remittance, every transaction generates detailed records — amount, sender, recipient, declared purpose — across multiple institutions. All linked to your tax ID, all queryable.
When you use the DePix App and the Liquid Network, the movement of value happens through confidential transactions. Once your reais enter the Liquid Network as DePix, the amounts of subsequent transactions are encrypted. No external observer can see how much you are moving or where the value is going within the network.
The Pix deposit is traceable — that is unavoidable. But from the moment the value enters the Liquid Network, the trail ends. Conversions, transfers, swaps: everything happens with a level of privacy the banking system simply does not provide.
For anyone making regular remittances, this means that no one — not banks, not fintechs, not third parties — has a complete history of your international movements.
Limitations: where the DePix route asks more of you
Honesty is essential. The DePix route is not for everyone, and it has trade-offs:
It requires more knowledge. The recipient needs to know how to use a crypto wallet or have access to an off-ramp service. If the person receiving the money has never used crypto, they will need guidance — or you can off-ramp before sending.
Daily deposit limit of R$ 6,000. For larger amounts, you need deposits over consecutive days. For one-time large-sum remittances, this can be inconvenient.
Deposit processing up to 24 hours. Movement within the Liquid Network is nearly instant, but the initial deposit has this security-related processing time.
Total cost depends on the off-ramp. If the recipient uses an off-ramp with high fees, the savings can shrink or even disappear. That is why choosing the right one is essential (see the options above).
Fintechs are more practical if you do not care about privacy. If your only criterion is ease of use, Wise and similar services offer a more straightforward experience. The DePix route makes sense when privacy and sovereignty are your priority.
Who benefits most from this route
- People making recurring remittances (monthly family support, etc.): the IOF savings compound month after month, and the learning curve pays for itself on the first transfer.
- Anyone looking to dollarize savings without paying IOF or dealing with banking bureaucracy.
- Anyone who values privacy and does not want every cent sent abroad recorded in the banking system.
- People already in the crypto ecosystem who are comfortable with wallets and swaps.
- Those with recipients in countries with strong crypto ecosystems, where off-ramps are cheap and accessible.
Your financial privacy starts here
International remittances through the banking system expose every detail of your financial life. Fintechs are cheaper but equally transparent to anyone monitoring. The DePix App offers a route where you send value anywhere in the world with real privacy — and without paying 3.5% IOF. Pix has convenience — DePix has privacy. Stop exposing every transaction to the banking system and start using digital money that only you control. Visit depixapp.com.