Finance is undergoing a quiet revolution. On one side, closed finance still relies on old networks, slow bank transfers, high remittance fees, and hidden middlemen. On the other side, open finance uses technology and open networks like Bitcoin’s Lightning Network to move money instantly and globally.
The difference matters more than ever. Today, 1.4 billion adults remain unbanked, and sending money across borders still costs an average of 6.49% per transaction. That’s billions lost each year in unnecessary fees. The G20 has recognized this problem and set 2027 goals: make payments arrive within one hour and lower global remittance costs to 3% or less. Closed systems aren’t hitting those targets but open finance can.
The World Has Already Gone Mobile
Your customers already live in the future. Finance just needs to catch up.
According to the GSMA, mobile technologies account for 5.8% of global GDP (about $6.5 trillion) and will generate over $11 trillion by 2030. Most of the world’s population now manages work, communication, and payments through their phones.
If money can’t move easily through mobile channels across borders, currencies, and time zones, users will simply choose services that can.
What Closed Finance Looks Like
“Closed” systems rely on chains of intermediaries, correspondent banks, card processors, and currency brokers, each taking a slice and adding delay.
That’s why transferring $200 from one country to another can still cost $10–$15 and take days to arrive. According to the World Bank, the global remittance average in 2025 is still 6.49%, and progress toward cheaper, faster payments remains slow.
Every time someone pays with a credit card or sends money abroad, the closed system takes its cut of 3% to 4% in merchant fees and often more than 5% for remittances.
What Open Finance Looks Like
Open finance replaces middlemen with interoperable APIs and neutral payment rails. Data moves freely (with consent), and money settles instantly between platforms.
Across Southeast Asia, governments and fintechs are leading the way, building open-banking frameworks and cross-border payment standards. The region’s 570 million consumers and $4.7 trillion GDP make it one of the most dynamic testing grounds for open finance.
At the heart of this change are Bitcoin and the Lightning Network. Together, they form a global, 24/7 payment rail that any licensed institution can plug into. Lightning already processes millions of transactions per month with ~99.7% success rates, offering the speed and reliability that modern finance demands.
Even major consumer platforms have adopted Lightning, normalizing instant, low-cost Bitcoin payments for both individuals and businesses.
The Three Big Tests of Finance
To understand why open finance wins, ask three simple questions:
1. Cost:
Closed systems charge percentage-based fees and hide costs in FX spreads. Open finance networks like Lightning have tiny, transparent fees measured in parts per million. That’s how providers can lower average costs toward the G20’s 3% goal instead of today’s 6.49%.
2. Speed:
Closed systems depend on business hours and batch settlements. Open finance settles in seconds, 24/7.
3. Inclusion:
Closed finance assumes everyone has a bank account. Open finance uses digital wallets to bring access to billions who live outside the traditional system.
Why Southeast Asia Leads the Open Finance Movement
Southeast Asia is where financial innovation meets necessity. Millions of people work abroad, send money home, and depend on fast, affordable digital payments. Governments are creating open-finance standards; fintech startups are offering seamless APIs for payments and lending.
Momentum is strong. The goal is clear: lower costs, faster settlement, and broader access.
Closed finance protects yesterday’s margins. Open finance builds tomorrow’s markets.
The future of money is open-source, mobile-native, and Bitcoin-enabled. With Neutron, institutions, banks, and PSP can stay compliant, stay fiat-first, and still deliver instant, low-cost, global payments powered by the open economy.
The question isn’t if finance will open up, it’s when. The only choice left is which side you’ll be on.
Sources: World Bank Global Findex; Remittance Prices Worldwide 2025; GSMA Mobile Economy Report; Financial Stability Board; Twimbit Open Banking in SEA; Lightning Network adoption data.
