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Payment Rail Efficiency

Definition

Payment rail efficiency measures how quickly, cheaply, and reliably value moves through a payment system. This metric assesses the performance of a payment network based on its speed of transaction settlement, the associated costs, and its overall reliability and accessibility. In the context of digital assets, it compares the capabilities of blockchain-based payment systems against traditional financial infrastructures. Improvements in this area are critical for cryptocurrencies to serve as viable mediums of exchange for everyday transactions and cross-border transfers.