Movement has announced a partnership with New Jersey-based Mexico remittance expert El Vecino and on-chain wallet provider RISE to power a digital-dollar service that lets customers hold their own money and send it home in seconds through WhatsApp.
Leveraging El Vecino’s 19 years of experience in US-to-Mexico physical remittances, RISE’s wallet capabilities and LATAM network, and Movement’s access to regulated, sub-second payment rails, the partnership enables stablecoin-settled transfers to be sent to Mexico almost instantly, giving customers a simple way to initiate transfers without opening a bank account or downloading an app.
Rather than having to visit a physical location to initiate every cash transfer, El Vecino customers can now begin the process through the familiar WhatsApp messenger. Funds settle in seconds before recipients cash out through Mexico's extensive OXXO and Circle K retail networks, or receive funds directly via the country's SPEI banking system.
The partnership aims to simplify sending money home along one of the world's most important remittance corridors. Funds settle in seconds and can be received via SPEI or withdrawn as cash through physical networks like OXXO and Circle K.
In a corridor where over $62 billion moved in 2024, speed matters—but so does trust. The initiative combines El Vecino’s long-standing relationship with the community, RISE’s product expertise, and Movement’s access to regulated payment infrastructure.
Transforming the Remittance Experience
For years, many remittances to Mexico have followed a similar pattern: cash handling, visits to physical locations, intermediaries, waiting periods, and settlement times spanning several days.
With this new route, the user initiates the transfer via WhatsApp, funds settle in seconds, and the recipient can receive the money via SPEI or withdraw cash at OXXO and Circle K locations.
The goal isn't to sell a tech narrative; it is to reduce friction regarding a financial need that already exists for thousands of Mexican families.
Discussing stablecoin remittances only makes sense if the infrastructure actually improves the user experience. In this case, the improvement lies in fewer steps, reduced reliance on manual processes, and much faster settlement.
The U.S.-Mexico corridor is the largest in the world and remains vital for families relying on recurring transfers. Being able to initiate a transfer using a familiar tool like WhatsApp—without opening a U.S. bank account—addresses a practical need rather than a passing product trend.
Who manages the customer relationship also matters. El Vecino has spent 19 years building trust regarding remittances to Mexico from New Jersey. That trust is central to the model.
How it Works
Each party brings something unique to this new remittance route to Mexico.
El Vecino contributes 19 years of experience in physical remittance services to Mexico and an active user base already familiar with its operations. It currently processes approximately 25,000 transactions per month—amounting to $70 million annually—across remittances, domestic and international payments, check cashing, and other services. Around 85% of these transactions are destined for Mexico.
RISE provides the wallet and regional network that enable the digital user experience.
Movement contributes regulated payment infrastructure and stablecoin settlement within seconds, as well as compliant fiat on-ramps and off-ramps—services that have historically been difficult for community-based remittance operators to secure.
Operating the new route via WhatsApp
Instead of having to visit a physical location to initiate each transfer, El Vecino users will be able to start the process via WhatsApp.
Funds are then settled almost instantly. The recipient in Mexico can receive them directly via SPEI or withdraw cash through a wide, well-known commercial network.
The new service will first be piloted with El Vecino’s 20,000 users. In a second phase, it will expand through the RISE network to reach an estimated 800,000 users. Looking ahead, the model also targets other corridors in Latin America, including Guatemala and El Salvador.
Crucially, this collaboration demonstrates that a community-based operator does not need to build its own blockchain infrastructure to modernize its remittance services to Mexico. It also shows that stablecoin-based remittances can function within a regulated model, offering real local payouts and an experience designed for users who already have established habits, trusted channels, and recurring needs.
From a broader perspective, the case is significant because it combines local distribution, a digital product, and regulated settlement in one of the world's most active remittance corridors.
Voices From The Alliance
Torab Torabi, CEO of Movement, said: “For too long, many Mexicans have struggled to send their hard-earned money home. The partnership with El Vecino and RISE helps correct this imbalance and demonstrates that stablecoins can function as a reliable settlement mechanism.
It also allows us to show that regulated blockchain infrastructure can modernize one of the world’s most active remittance corridors.”
Mike Burns, founder of El Vecino, said: “El Vecino was built on the trust that comes from face-to-face interaction. Families trust us because they know we help them support their loved ones. Partnering with RISE and Movement allows us to bring that trust to a remote digital channel, with the same security and certainty that the money will arrive.”
Richard Mas, founder and CEO of RISE, said: “Every year, tens of billions of dollars flow from the United States to Mexico—money largely earned far from home by people whom the banking system has left behind. El Vecino spent 19 years building trust at the counter, household by household, and we are proud to join forces with them and Movement to give those users access to new, secure, and regulatory-compliant digital solutions.”
We at Movement are confident that this pathway will not only improve the experience for El Vecino users but can also serve as a model for other remittance providers serving migrant communities who are seeking a more efficient way to move money between the United States and Mexico.
This is where stablecoin-based remittances move beyond being an abstract idea and become practical infrastructure for solving real-world problems.
