> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tedprotocol.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Why TED Protocol?

> Faster, cheaper, more transparent

Cross-border payments remain one of the most inefficient areas of global finance. TED Protocol addresses this through decentralized, cross-chain infrastructure.

### Problems

* **Expensive traditional transfers** — Banks charge 3-8% on international wire transfers, with additional hidden fees buried in unfavorable exchange rates. Sending \$1,000 from the US to Japan can cost \$50-80 in combined fees.

* **Slow settlement times** — International bank transfers take 2-5 business days to settle. For businesses managing global payroll or individuals sending urgent remittances, these delays create real operational friction.

* **Access barriers** — Traditional cross-border payments require bank accounts, KYC verification, and operate only during business hours. The 1.7 billion unbanked adults worldwide have limited options for receiving international payments.

* **Fragmented DeFi solutions** — DeFi could be an alternative, but existing protocols each have limitations. [Curve](https://curve.fi) offers low slippage, [Uniswap](https://uniswap.org) provides deep liquidity, but both are limited to single chains and lack cross-chain FX capabilities.

### Our Approach

* **Best rate discovery** — TED Protocol queries [multiple DEXs simultaneously](/protocol/multi-dex-aggregator) to automatically find the most favorable rate. Fees are just \$1.50-3.00 for a \$1,000 transfer—10-50x cheaper than traditional banking.

* **Fast settlement** — Same-chain swaps complete in under 30 seconds, cross-chain transfers in 5-10 minutes. No manual bridging or waiting for business hours.

* **Open to everyone** — Anyone with a crypto wallet can use TED Protocol. No bank account or KYC required, and the protocol operates 24/7/365.

* **Secure non-custodial design** — Users always retain control of their funds through our [non-custodial architecture](/risks/risk-overview). Every transaction requires wallet signatures, and smart contracts are fully open-source.

### Who Benefits

* **Individuals** — International remittances, freelancer payments, travel currency exchange, cross-chain asset transfers—all faster and cheaper.

* **Businesses** — Reduce costs and improve efficiency for overseas payroll, global e-commerce, and treasury operations.

* **Web3 users** — DAO contributors, DeFi participants, and NFT traders can easily move funds across chains without complex processes.