Sera vs 1Money: How they actually compare
Sera and 1Money both operate in the stablecoin payments space, but at different layers. 1Money is a payment rails platform — it provides the pipes, compliance, and connectivity that let businesses send and receive stablecoins. Sera is the FX settlement layer — a non-custodial protocol that converts between currency-pegged stablecoins on-chain with no protocol fee. Teams building multi-currency stablecoin flows often need both: 1Money-style rails for on/off-ramp and compliance, Sera for the FX conversion step at the centre.
Sera vs 1Money, side by side
| Sera | 1Money (stablecoin payment rails) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Non-custodial FX settlement protocol | Stablecoin payment rails platform |
| Settlement model | On-chain, non-custodial | Platform-managed, off-chain routing |
| Custody | You / your users keep custody | Platform holds funds in transit |
| Protocol / platform fee | 0 protocol fee; LP earns the FX spread | Per-transaction platform fee (not publicly disclosed) |
| FX conversion | Native — 30,000+ stablecoin pair combinations | Supported for selected corridors via partner rates |
| Currency coverage | 120+ currencies, 600+ stablecoins | Selected currencies, region-dependent |
| LP yield | Yes — LPs earn the FX spread on every routed trade | No LP model |
| AI/agent integration | Native MCP at agents.sera.cx | REST API |
| Settlement speed | Sub-300ms median (on-chain) | Seconds to minutes, platform-dependent |
| Best for | Builders who own custody + KYC and need best-execution FX | Businesses wanting a managed payment rails vendor for stablecoin sends |
When to choose Sera
- You already have custody, KYC, and compliance solved and need only the FX conversion step on-chain.
- Capital efficiency matters — LPs earn the FX spread across 30,000+ pairs from a single deposit.
- You want non-custodial, audited settlement where no platform holds your funds.
- You're building agent-driven FX flows and need an MCP-compatible protocol.
- You want the broadest possible stablecoin coverage (600+ stablecoins, 120+ currencies).
When to choose 1Money
- You want a managed rails vendor that handles compliance, connectivity, and cross-border payouts end-to-end.
- You don't want to own custody, on/off-ramp, or regulatory obligations in-house.
- You're sending stablecoins between specific corridors where 1Money has strong local payout coverage.
- You prefer a platform relationship with SLAs and managed support over a non-custodial protocol.
Pricing, side by side
Illustrative: $10,000 USDC → local currency cross-border payment.
| Sera | 1Money | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform / protocol fee | $0 protocol fee | Not publicly disclosed; contact for pricing |
| FX spread | $5–$40 (5–40 bps, accrues to LP — can be you) | Embedded in quoted exchange rate |
| Gas | $0.01–$0.50 (L2) | Abstracted |
| Effective cost | $5–$40 | Platform fee + spread; volume-negotiated |
Integrating Sera
Sera is a settlement protocol. You quote a conversion, sign an on-chain intent, and settle in sub-300ms — custody stays with you throughout. Integrators can call the Sera contract directly or use the MCP for agent-driven flows.
Integrating 1Money
1Money is a payment rails platform. You connect via their API, and 1Money manages the routing, compliance checks, and payout to the recipient. Custody and regulatory responsibility rest with 1Money during transit.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Sera a 1Money alternative?
- For the FX conversion step, yes — Sera provides best-execution multi-currency settlement with no protocol fee. For managed end-to-end payment rails with compliance and payouts included, 1Money covers what Sera intentionally does not. Many teams use a rails vendor like 1Money for on/off-ramp and Sera for the FX layer in between.
- Does 1Money support the same stablecoins as Sera?
- Sera supports 600+ stablecoins across 120+ currencies — one of the broadest coverage sets in the market. 1Money supports a curated set of stablecoins optimised for their corridor network. If your flow involves less common stablecoin pairs or non-major corridors, Sera's coverage is typically wider.
- Can I earn yield as an LP on 1Money?
- 1Money does not expose an LP yield model. On Sera, any entity — including a payments business or treasury team — can deposit liquidity and earn the FX spread on every transaction routed through their position.
- 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 directly for autonomous cross-border settlements. 1Money provides a REST API which 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.