"Real-time" has become a buzzword in fintech. But what does it actually mean for your money transfers?
Let me break down exactly how PayinGlobal handles exchange rate updates.
The Technical Reality
PayinGlobal refreshes exchange rate data every 3-5 minutes during active market hours for major currency pairs. For less common currencies, updates occur every 10-15 minutes.
This isn't arbitrary. It's the sweet spot between:
Accuracy (rates fresh enough to be useful)
Performance (system speed and reliability)
Provider API limits (respecting our partners' systems)
Why Not Every Second?
You might wonder: why not continuous, second-by-second updates?
The answer is practicality. The human decision-making process takes longer than rate fluctuations. By the time you review providers, read reviews, and click through, several minutes have passed anyway.
Plus, currency markets aren't that volatile minute-to-minute for most retail transfers. A 0.01% change doesn't materially impact your transfer.
When Rates Change Dramatically
During major economic events (central bank announcements, geopolitical crises, market crashes), rates can swing wildly. Our system adapts:
Update frequency increases automatically
We display volatility warnings
Historical context shows recent rate movement
The Provider Layer
Remember: PayinGlobal shows what providers offer. Each provider updates their own rates on different schedules:
Some providers update continuously. Others adjust rates every 30-60 minutes. A few only change rates once or twice daily.
We display their current rate, whatever their update schedule.
Your Action Window
Here's what matters: When you see a favorable rate on PayinGlobal and click through to complete your transfer, you typically have 15-30 minutes before that provider's rate changes again.
Enough time to make an informed decision. Not so much that rates become meaningless.
Real-time doesn't mean instantaneous. It means reliably current.
