Most people don’t think too hard about the timing of their transfer. You need to send money, you open the app, you hit send. Done.

But if you’ve ever wondered why your recipient got slightly less than expected, or why some days feel slower or more expensive, it’s not in your head. The truth is that when you send money internationally can actually make a difference.

And if you’re trying to get the most out of every dollar, peso, shilling, or cedi, you should understand how it works.

How exchange rates work (and why timing matters)

At the heart of every international transfer is a currency conversion and that rate isn’t fixed.

Exchange rates fluctuate throughout the day due to a few factors including:

• Central bank policies
• Global economic indicators (e.g. inflation, interest rates)
• Political news and monetary speculation
• Supply and demand on currency pairs

Foreign exchange (FX) is one of the largest markets in the world, processing over $7.5 trillion daily (source: BIS 2022 Triennial Survey). These rates can shift minute by minute which means that if your provider ties their payouts to live FX, even a slight move can change the value your recipient receives.

Weekends vs weekdays: Why it can cost more to send money internationally on Saturdays

FX markets operate 24/5. Open Monday through Friday, and  closed on weekends. This can affect your bottom line.

When markets are closed:

• Banks and remittance services can’t access live rates
• Many providers either pause transfers, or apply a markup to protect against volatility
• Others lock in your order but delay execution until the next business day

In practice, this means that transfers sent on Saturday or Sunday may clear with slightly less favorable rates, or take longer to settle.

💡 Pro tip: If possible, avoid initiating large transfers late on Friday or over the weekend, especially with providers that mark up rates without transparency.

Does the time of day matter? Surprisingly, yes.

Exchange rate stability isn’t just a matter of what day of the week you send, but it also depends on what time of the day you send.

Rates tend to be most stable and liquid during overlap hours between major trading markets:

• London–New York overlap: 12PM–4PM GMT
• London–Asia overlap: 7AM–9AM GMT

During these windows:

• Liquidity is higher (more buyers/sellers)
• Spreads tighten (less markup between buy/sell)
• Transactions clear faster

This especially matters for remittance services or wallets that source FX on-demand, like Wise, WorldRemit, or P2P platforms.

That said, if your provider uses daily fixed rates, these windows won’t help. The rate you see is the rate you get.

Not all remittance apps are built the same

Let’s talk about the providers themselves. Because even if the global markets are working in your favor, you might still lose out depending on who you use.

Many traditional remittance services:

• Apply hidden markups of 1.5% to 5% on the exchange rate
• Lock in a daily rate that may be less favorable than live FX
• Charge transfer or payout fees on top

In contrast, platforms like MiniPay skip the FX middlemen entirely by using stablecoins—digital dollars that hold their value globally.

With MiniPay, you:

• Buy and send in dollars, often with zero fees
• Convert to local currency when you choose, not when the app decides
• Avoid markups or delays tied to off-market hours

Try the rate calculator here

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What about crypto transfers—Does timing matter there too?

If you’re using a wallet like MiniPay that runs on stablecoins:

• Transfers are 24/7
• Each transfer costs less than $0.01 in fees. No matter how much you are sending
• You can send as little as $1 or $10 multiple times in one day. It doesn’t matter 

In this case, timing isn’t about price, it’s about convenience and local liquidity.

If your recipient wants to convert to cash, that’s where traditional timing matters again. The best time to send is when the receiver has easy access to a local on-ramp or vendor—usually during business hours in their country.

So while blockchain doesn’t sleep, humans (and mobile money agents) still do.

When is the best time to send money internationally, then?

To sum it up:

• Avoid weekends. Rates may be worse, and settlements slower.
• Send mid-week (Tuesday–Thursday). These are typically the most stable days for FX.
• Use weekday mornings to early afternoons (GMT). That’s when markets are most active and spreads are tight.
• Compare total cost—not just fees. Look at the real payout value after conversion.
• Use stablecoins if you want control. Apps like MiniPay let you time the conversion, not just the send.

Final thought: Smart senders think about timing, not just tools

Most remittance users are focused on speed and access. But the most savvy users also think about timing—especially when sending significant amounts or supporting family regularly.

Timing your transfer doesn’t mean obsessing over the markets. But it does mean choosing the right day, time, and app to protect your value.

With MiniPay, you’re already ahead. Stablecoins give you flexibility. MiniPay gives you simplicity. Together, you get peace of mind.

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