Sera vs OpenFX: How they actually compare
Sera and OpenFX target the same B2B customers — remittance companies, PSPs, and FX on/off-ramp platforms — but operate on fundamentally different rails. OpenFX routes fiat currency over direct bank networks: no blockchain, sub-60-minute settlement, and a currently limited set of live corridors (AED, PHP, COP). Sera settles stablecoins on-chain: sub-300ms finality, 120+ currencies, 600+ stablecoins, and no custody transfer. If your product is fiat-native and you need a handful of specific corridors, OpenFX is a strong fit. If you want on-chain settlement, LP yield, and breadth across 30,000+ pair combinations, Sera is the settlement layer.
Sera vs OpenFX, side by side
| Sera | OpenFX (fiat FX rails for PSPs) | |
|---|---|---|
| Settlement rails | On-chain (blockchain), non-custodial | Direct bank network routing, fiat only |
| Asset type | Stablecoins (600+, 120+ currencies) | Fiat currencies (no stablecoin or blockchain) |
| Currency coverage | 120+ currencies, 30,000+ stablecoin pair combinations | AED (live), PHP and COP (beta), ARS (launching) |
| Settlement speed | Sub-300ms median | Under 60 minutes, multiple times per day |
| Fee / spread | 0 protocol fee; LP earns the FX spread (typically 5–40 bps) | 0.01–0.3% all-in spread; flat, transparent pricing |
| FX spread captured by | Liquidity provider (can be you) | OpenFX |
| LP yield model | Yes — LPs earn the FX spread on every settled trade | No LP model |
| Custody model | Non-custodial throughout | Not specified; traditional bank settlement |
| AI/agent integration | Native MCP at agents.sera.cx | API-based liquidity routing |
| Target customer | Payment builders, fintechs, treasury, AI agents | Remittance companies, PSPs, FX on/off-ramp platforms |
| 24/7 operation | Yes (blockchain never closes) | Yes (including weekends/holidays) |
When to choose Sera
- You want on-chain, non-custodial settlement — no bank counterparty, no custody transfer.
- You need broad corridor coverage: 120+ currencies vs OpenFX's current live corridors.
- You want to earn the FX spread yourself by providing liquidity to your own flow.
- Sub-300ms settlement latency matters — versus up to 60 minutes on fiat rails.
- You're building AI agent-driven FX flows and need an MCP-compatible protocol.
When to choose OpenFX
- You want pure fiat FX rails with no stablecoin or blockchain exposure.
- Your key corridors are AED, PHP, or COP — where OpenFX has built dedicated liquidity.
- Your customers or partners are not ready to interact with stablecoins or wallets.
- You want a demo-based pricing relationship with a traditional FX infrastructure vendor.
Pricing, side by side
Illustrative: $10,000 cross-border FX transfer.
| Sera | OpenFX | |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol / platform fee | $0 protocol fee | $0 (spread-only pricing) |
| FX spread | $5–$40 (5–40 bps, accrues to LP — can be you) | $1–$30 (0.01–0.3% all-in spread, captured by OpenFX) |
| Settlement | On-chain, sub-300ms | Bank network, under 60 minutes |
| Gas | $0.01–$0.50 (L2) | n/a |
Integrating Sera
Sera is a non-custodial on-chain settlement protocol. You quote a conversion between stablecoins, sign an intent, and Sera routes across all available liquidity via SOR. Callable directly from a smart contract or via the Sera MCP for AI agent-driven flows.
Integrating OpenFX
OpenFX provides API-based liquidity routing over direct bank networks. Integrators (remittance companies, PSPs, on/off-ramp platforms) connect via API to route fiat payments across OpenFX's corridors, bypassing correspondent banking with direct network settlement.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Sera an OpenFX alternative?
- For the same B2B use case (building cross-border payment products), yes — Sera provides on-chain stablecoin FX settlement where OpenFX provides fiat bank-rail FX routing. The choice depends on whether your product is stablecoin-native or fiat-native, and which corridors you need.
- Does OpenFX use blockchain or stablecoins?
- No. OpenFX is traditional fiat FX infrastructure — it routes payments over direct bank networks, not blockchains. There are no stablecoins, wallets, or gas fees. Sera is the on-chain equivalent: stablecoin-denominated, non-custodial, and sub-300ms.
- Which is cheaper — Sera or OpenFX?
- OpenFX quotes 0.01–0.3% all-in spread, captured by OpenFX. Sera takes 0 protocol fee; the FX spread (5–40 bps) accrues to liquidity providers — meaning if you LP your own flow, you capture the spread rather than paying it to a platform. For high-volume builders, this difference compounds significantly.
- Can I use both Sera and OpenFX?
- Yes. Some payment platforms use fiat FX infrastructure like OpenFX for specific corridors where they have strong bank relationships, and Sera for stablecoin-denominated settlement in corridors where on-chain is more efficient. The two operate on different rails and can complement each other.
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.