Real-time payments (RTPs) are transforming the financial landscape, offering a level of speed and certainty that traditional systems simply can’t match. What once took days can now happen in seconds, with instant payments making a profound impact wherever they are deployed.
This surge is reflected in the numbers: according to Juniper Research, RTP transactions are set to exceed 600 billion globally by 2028, up from 252 billion in 2024, a staggering 138% increase. For financial institutions serving cross-border needs, this evolution isn’t just an upgrade; it’s a lifeline. RTPs are becoming a crucial bridge between operational efficiency and financial inclusion.
The benefits of RTPs extend far beyond speed. With greater transparency, reduced fees, and better liquidity management, they are reshaping the payments ecosystem. RTPs are making a tangible difference, from helping migrant workers send money home faster, to giving banks real-time insight into their cash positions. The value of instant payments resonates across the entire financial landscape.
Importantly, RTPs are no longer confined to domestic boundaries. They are revolutionising global money movement. In regions like Southeast Asia, real-time rails are already linked across borders: Singapore’s PayNow and Thailand’s PromptPay, for instance, are creating seamless corridors for instant, low-cost transfers. India’s UPI integration with the UAE further highlights how interoperable RTP schemes are making cross-border payments as fast and effortless as local ones.
These bilateral connections are eliminating traditional delays and high costs associated with international transfers. Enhanced transparency and instant settlement across jurisdictions are becoming the norm. The age of RTP systems limited by national borders is over – today’s interconnected payment networks are enabling efficient, secure, and always-on global value movement.
Beyond transactions, RTPs are reshaping liquidity strategies. For financial institutions, 24/7 settlement means cash is no longer tied up in transit or locked in pre-funded accounts. Real-time visibility allows for more accurate cash forecasting and on-demand liquidity deployment, leading to fewer idle balances and stronger working capital management.
To support this, RTP infrastructure is being leveraged to optimise liquidity across jurisdictions. Instead of waiting for end-of-day batch reconciliations or depending on costly Nostro accounts, institutions can now make informed treasury decisions throughout the day. This shift levels the playing field, enabling smaller financial institutions to compete more effectively with larger global players.
However, this transformation isn’t without its challenges. Real-time FX conversion remains a sticking point for cross-border flows, and fraud risks are amplified in an instant-settlement world where there is little time to catch unauthorised or suspicious activity. This is where technologies such as AI-driven fraud detection and transaction scoring play a vital role, scanning patterns in real time to prevent financial crime before it occurs.
RTP adoption also remains uneven worldwide. Regulatory fragmentation, with differing KYC, AML, and technical standards, makes cross-border interoperability a complex puzzle. Yet, signs of convergence are emerging. The EU’s Instant Payments Regulation (IPR), introduced in 2024, is pushing banks to adopt instant capabilities, with the €100,000 limit set to be removed in 2025. Meanwhile, the US FedNow launch is intensifying competition and laying the foundation for greater interoperability with domestic systems like RTP and Zelle.
By merging blockchain efficiency with fiat currency stability, stablecoins enable real-time cross-border settlements that cut costs, eliminate delays, and enhance transparency.
Nina Papazyan, Director of Product and Banking Relationship
Innovations such as SWIFT GPI, RippleNet, and stablecoins like USDC are filling the gaps where traditional cross-border RTPs fall short. Stablecoins represent a natural extension of fiat RTP rails, meeting the growing demand for instant, borderless transactions. By merging blockchain efficiency with fiat currency stability, stablecoins enable real-time cross-border settlements that cut costs, eliminate delays, and enhance transparency. Similarly, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are being piloted globally, with the aim of delivering seamless, secure, and real-time FX conversion as part of next-generation payment systems.
Looking ahead, the next wave of RTP innovation will likely focus on enhancing consumer protections. While RTPs don’t support traditional chargebacks, the rise of “request for return” protocols and reimbursement mandates, such as the UK’s APP fraud regulations, signals a shift toward more accountable frameworks.
In a world where every second counts, the race to real time is transforming the future of finance, one transaction at a time. For financial institutions focused on cross-border services, adopting RTP infrastructure is no longer just a technological upgrade, it’s a competitive necessity. From smarter liquidity management to seamless compliance, the benefits are real, immediate, and growing.
At Clear Junction, we believe that building effective RTP solutions is about more than just transaction speed. It’s about creating payment flows that are trusted, transparent, and adaptable. Real-time payments require more than just infrastructure, they need partnerships that understand compliance nuances and deliver consistent performance across borders. That’s why we focus on underserved markets, where the value of modern payment systems is most urgently needed. Recognising the limitations of traditional RTP rails, Clear Junction is expanding into blockchain-based payments and rolling out stablecoin solutions to meet the rising demand for instant, global settlement.
Speak to the Clear Junction team today to discover how we can help you with specialised payment services and end-to-end solutions.