Why Getting Paid Costs More in Emerging Markets
Thu Jan 29 2026
If you're a freelancer or a remote worker from the global south, you likely have a harder time getting paid and participating in the global economy.
Maybe a global payments company doesn't operate in your country. Maybe they banned your account or froze your funds.
Remote workers and freelancers from emerging markets often have to jump through hoops to get paid, incurring additional costs along the way.
Meanwhile, more people than ever are working online, and more of these workers are coming from the developing world. Yet the global payments system is often failing the very people who rely on it the most.
Are stablecoins the solution?
This episode of Money Trails is presented by Stellar Development Foundation.
Watch the full episode on YouTube.
00:00 - The global payments system is broken01:34 - Freelancing and remote work payment issues03:38 - Why does this happen? De-risking04:29 - 1.2 billion people are reaching working age in emerging markets05:15 - Stablecoins to the rescue?07:09 - There is a tax on the global south09:03 - Next episode, we head to Lagos, Nigeria
Our Links -🎥 YouTube - https://youtube.com/@thefliphq🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/thefliphq👥 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefliphq/📸 Instagram - https://instagram.com/thefliphq💻 Website - https://theflip.africa
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If you're a freelancer or a remote worker from the global south, you likely have a harder time getting paid and participating in the global economy. Maybe a global payments company doesn't operate in your country. Maybe they banned your account or froze your funds. Remote workers and freelancers from emerging markets often have to jump through hoops to get paid, incurring additional costs along the way. Meanwhile, more people than ever are working online, and more of these workers are coming from the developing world. Yet the global payments system is often failing the very people who rely on it the most. Are stablecoins the solution? This episode of Money Trails is presented by Stellar Development Foundation. Watch the full episode on YouTube. 00:00 - The global payments system is broken01:34 - Freelancing and remote work payment issues03:38 - Why does this happen? De-risking04:29 - 1.2 billion people are reaching working age in emerging markets05:15 - Stablecoins to the rescue?07:09 - There is a tax on the global south09:03 - Next episode, we head to Lagos, Nigeria Our Links -🎥 YouTube - https://youtube.com/@thefliphq🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/thefliphq👥 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefliphq/📸 Instagram - https://instagram.com/thefliphq💻 Website - https://theflip.africa