Today we can pay for a purchase, send money to a relative or receive a transfer in a matter of seconds. Something that seemed like a major innovation a few years ago is becoming part of everyday life. And behind this change, Latin America has experiences worth highlighting.
Mexico was one of the pioneers with SPEI, which began operating in 2004 and processed more than 7.4 billion transfers in 2025. Brazil took a significant step with the launch of Pix in 2020, a system already used by more than 170 million people that transformed the way everyday payments are made.
Colombia is moving in the same direction. Bre-B, which turned one in October 2026, passed 1.7 billion transfers, 62% of them for amounts under 50,000 pesos. That figure is especially interesting because it shows how instant payments are finding their place in people’s most ordinary activities.
Although SPEI, Pix and Bre-B have different histories, they share a purpose: making it easy for money to reach its destination quickly and simply, without depending on traditional banking hours.
More than speed
In my view, the most important impact of this shift is not only that transfers take less time. It is that people can have their money when they really need it, and that small businesses can receive their payments without unnecessary waits.
Of course, there are still challenges. Security, trust, financial education and access to digital tools remain essential for these advances to reach more people. Speed matters, but it has to come with a reliable and accessible experience.
The next challenge
I am optimistic about the path Latin America is taking. SPEI, Pix and Bre-B show that our region can drive significant change when technology responds to real needs.
The next challenge is no longer just making money move in seconds, but making that ease translate into more opportunities for people, businesses and the economies of our region.