Sera vs 1Money: How they actually compare
Sera and 1Money both enable stablecoin cross-border payments, but at different layers and with different custody models. 1Money is a full-stack custodial platform — it holds assets under institutional TSS-MPC custody, provides fiat on/off ramps (ACH, SEPA, PIX, UPI), virtual accounts with local routing numbers, and a proprietary zero-gas-fee network. Sera is a non-custodial FX settlement protocol — you keep custody, there is no platform between you and the chain, and liquidity providers earn the FX spread. If you want one regulated platform to handle custody, compliance, and ramps, 1Money is designed for that. If you own custody and need best-execution FX across 600+ stablecoins, Sera is the settlement layer.
Sera vs 1Money, side by side
| Sera | 1Money (custodial stablecoin + fiat platform) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Non-custodial FX settlement protocol | Full-stack custodial stablecoin + fiat platform |
| Custody model | Non-custodial — you hold assets throughout | Custodial — 1Money holds assets (TSS-MPC institutional custody) |
| Platform fee | 0 protocol fee; LP earns the FX spread | Zero platform fees; spread embedded in exchange rate |
| Fiat on/off ramps | No (settlement layer only) | Yes — ACH, SEPA, PIX, UPI, and more |
| Virtual accounts | No | Yes — local routing numbers and account details |
| Proprietary network | Open on-chain settlement (L2 gas applies) | 1Money Network — zero gas fees for internal transfers |
| Geographic coverage | 120+ currencies incl. APAC, Africa, Middle East, LatAm | Primarily US; MXN and BRL live; no APAC, Africa, or MENA |
| Stablecoin coverage | 600+ stablecoins incl. XSGD, BRLA, IDR-pegged, PHP-pegged, KES-pegged | USD/EUR stablecoins (USDC, USDT, EURC, MXNB, PYUSD, RLUSD) |
| LP yield model | Yes — LPs earn the FX spread on every settled trade | No LP yield model |
| Regulation | Non-custodial protocol; compliance owned by integrator | FinCEN-registered MSB (34 US states) + Bermuda Monetary Authority |
| Settlement speed | Sub-300ms median (on-chain) | Instant on 1Money Network; SPEI/PIX timing applies for fiat corridors |
| AI/agent integration | Native MCP at agents.sera.cx | API access |
| Target user | Builders who own custody and need the FX layer across 120+ currencies | US-anchored businesses and individuals sending to MXN/BRL corridors |
When to choose Sera
- You already own custody, KYC, and regulatory obligations and need only the FX conversion step.
- You want to earn the FX spread yourself — Sera LPs capture the spread rather than paying it to a platform.
- Non-custodial settlement is a requirement: no platform should hold your users' assets.
- You need the broadest stablecoin coverage (600+ stablecoins, 120+ currencies).
- You're building agent-driven flows and need an MCP-native settlement protocol.
When to choose 1Money
- You want one regulated platform to handle custody, compliance, and on/off ramps end-to-end.
- You need fiat ramps (ACH, SEPA, PIX, UPI) or virtual accounts with local routing numbers built in.
- You prefer zero gas fees for internal transfers via the 1Money Network.
- You serve individuals or businesses who want a finished product, not infrastructure to build on.
- FinCEN and Bermuda Monetary Authority regulation matters for your compliance posture.
Pricing, side by side
Illustrative: $10,000 stablecoin cross-border payment.
| Sera | 1Money | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform / protocol fee | $0 protocol fee | $0 platform fee (spread-based pricing) |
| FX spread | $5–$40 (5–40 bps, accrues to LP — can be you) | Embedded in quoted exchange rate; accrues to 1Money |
| Gas | $0.01–$0.50 (L2) | $0 on 1Money Network; standard gas on external chains |
| Custody | None — non-custodial | Institutional TSS-MPC custody included |
Integrating Sera
Sera is a non-custodial settlement protocol. You quote a conversion between stablecoins, sign an on-chain intent, and settle in sub-300ms — assets never leave your custody. Integrators call the Sera contract directly or use the Sera MCP for AI agent-driven flows.
Integrating 1Money
1Money is a full-stack custodial platform. Users and businesses receive, buy, sell, convert, send, and store stablecoins and fiat through 1Money's API and interface. 1Money holds assets under institutional TSS-MPC custody and manages on/off ramps, compliance, and the 1Money Network for zero-gas internal transfers.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Sera a 1Money alternative?
- For the FX conversion step specifically, yes — Sera provides best-execution multi-currency settlement with no protocol fee and no custody transfer. For a full-stack regulated platform with custody, fiat ramps, and virtual accounts, 1Money covers what Sera intentionally does not. Many teams use a custodial platform like 1Money for on/off-ramp and Sera as the FX settlement layer in between.
- Both 1Money and Sera say zero platform fees — what is the difference?
- Both take no explicit platform fee. The difference is who captures the FX spread: on 1Money, the spread is embedded in the quoted rate and accrues to 1Money. On Sera, the spread accrues to the liquidity provider — which can be you. If you LP your own flow on Sera, the conversion step approaches gas-only cost on L2s.
- What is the 1Money Network and how does it compare to Sera's on-chain settlement?
- The 1Money Network is 1Money's proprietary internal transfer network — zero gas fees for transfers between 1Money accounts. Sera settles on public blockchain infrastructure (audited smart contracts on L2s), so it is verifiable, permissionless, and non-custodial. The 1Money Network is faster and gas-free within its ecosystem; Sera is open and composable with any DeFi or stablecoin infrastructure.
- Does Sera support fiat ramps and virtual accounts?
- No — Sera is a settlement-layer protocol. It converts between stablecoins on-chain; fiat on/off ramps and virtual accounts are out of scope by design. Integrators typically pair Sera with a fiat ramp provider or custodial platform (like 1Money) for the on/off-ramp step.
- Which is better for AI agent payments?
- Sera has native MCP support at agents.sera.cx, exposing fx_quote, fx_settle, corridors, and rates as tools any MCP-compatible agent (Claude, GPT-4o, Gemini) can call for autonomous cross-border settlements. 1Money provides API access that agents can call via standard HTTP tools.
Use Sera as your FX settlement layer
Keep custody and KYC where they are. Plug Sera in for the on-chain currency conversion and capture the FX spread on your own flow.