On/off-ramp provider selection and the cost of complacency

Learned a tough lesson last year regarding stablecoin on/off-ramps for our business. We’d been using the same provider for $USDC settlements for ages – good rates, decent service, never had an issue. Complacency, pure and simple. We figured, 'it works, why fix it?'

Then came the banking turmoil early last year. Our primary fiat banking partner, which our on-ramp provider relied heavily on, started showing cracks. Suddenly, what was a reliable 1-day settlement turned into 3-5 days, then some transactions were outright stuck for a week. We were trying to move significant sums, effectively leaving capital in limbo. The opportunity cost alone was substantial, missing out on immediate re-deployments or covering payroll without liquidating other assets prematurely.

Our mistake was not having a secondary or tertiary provider vetted and ready to go. We'd glanced at alternatives but never did the full due diligence, KYC/AML, and integration work required to actually switch or split volume. The cost wasn't just the delayed funds; it was the scramble, the lost trust from partners expecting timely payments, and the internal resources diverted to chase down stuck transfers. Now, we maintain active relationships with at least two providers for critical functions like this. Diversification isn't just for portfolios; it's for infrastructure too.