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# Getting paid is not the same as having money you can use
- URL: https://blog.morph.network/getting-paid-is-not-the-same-as-having-money-you-can-use/
- Published: 2026-11-11T00:59:34.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-11T00:59:34.000Z
- Description: A new Morph report examines how payment delays, hidden costs and banking disruptions affect businesses across five Asian markets—and where stablecoins could fit.
- Author: Morph
- Tags: morph

A client can mark an invoice as paid. A platform can confirm that earnings have been released.

But if the money still hasn’t reached the business’s bank account, is the payment really complete?

That gap between being paid and having usable funds sits at the centre of Morph’s new report, [*The Cost of Getting Paid*](https://blog.morph.network/the-cost-of-getting-paid-morph-report/).

Together with Studio by Informa TechTarget, we surveyed 150 business owners, independent operators and payments decision-makers across Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The results show that the cost of getting paid is not limited to the transaction fee.

## The wait has consequences

Across the five markets:

- **83%** said international invoice payments typically took at least two business days to reach their local business bank accounts.
- **65%** estimated that fees and foreign exchange consumed at least 3% of their international earnings.
- **37%** had used credit lines, overdrafts or loans to bridge cash-flow gaps caused by payment delays.

That last finding is particularly revealing. When a business has to borrow against money it has already earned, it pays an additional—and often overlooked—price for slow settlement.

The effects also extend beyond cash flow. Businesses reported spending more time chasing payments, renegotiating deadlines and revising forecasts. More than half had postponed an investment or growth initiative because of payment delays.

## Five markets, five different realities

The report also shows why Asia cannot be approached as one payments market.

Singapore recorded comparatively faster settlement, yet respondents remained concerned about FX markups and hidden costs. Businesses in the Philippines were especially likely to say payment delays made forecasting more difficult.

Indonesia showed the most concentrated combination of slow settlement, high costs and payment disruption. In Vietnam, disruptions were more likely to push businesses towards cash, personal accounts, credit or other financial workarounds. Hong Kong’s results made a strong case for payment continuity when conventional channels become restricted or unavailable.

The underlying needs are similar. Businesses want to know when their money will arrive, how much they will receive and whether they have another route available when the usual one fails.

But the reason each market needs better payment infrastructure is not the same.

## Where do stablecoins fit?

Only **10%** of stablecoin-aware respondents were already using stablecoins for business transactions or payouts. Adoption is still at an early stage.

Interest, however, is considerably broader. More than half were already using, implementing or actively evaluating stablecoins, while **94% of all respondents** said they would value an alternative payment option as a backup.

This does not mean stablecoins will automatically solve every cross-border payment problem. Businesses still need regulatory confidence, straightforward local-currency conversion, reliable fiat parity and systems that fit their existing financial operations.

The technology matters. But the experience surrounding it will ultimately determine whether businesses adopt it.

*The Cost of Getting Paid* explores the settlement, cost and reliability gaps facing businesses across all five markets. It also examines what businesses expect from payment providers—and what must happen before stablecoins can move from interest to everyday use.

[**Download *The Cost of Getting Paid* to explore the full findings.**](https://blog.morph.network/the-cost-of-getting-paid-morph-report/)