🇸🇦 Sarie vs 🇦🇷 SNP

Saudi Arabia vs Argentina · Real-time payment systems compared

🇸🇦 Sarie

Saudi Arabia

2025 Transactions750.0 million

2025 Value (USD)$621.0bn

Volume YoY+26.5%

Launched2021

OperatorSAMA

SettlementInstant

🇦🇷 SNP

Argentina

2025 Transactions8.0 billion

2025 Value (USD)$590.4bn

Volume YoY+2.6%

Launched2016

OperatorBCRA

SettlementInstant

Key differences

SNP processes 11× more transactions than Sarie (8.0 billion vs 750.0 million in 2025).
Sarie is growing faster year-on-year (26.5% vs 2.6%, a 23.9 point gap).
SNP (2016) predates Sarie (2021) by 5 years.
Both systems support proxy/alias lookup.
Sarie uniquely supports ISO 20022.
SNP uniquely supports request-to-pay.

Infrastructure comparison

Capability	Sarie	SNP
QR Code Payments	—	◐
Wallet Support	—	◐
24/7 Availability	✓	✓
Cross-Border	—	—
ISO 20022	✓	—
Request to Pay	—	✓
Open API	◐	◐
Alias/Proxy	✓	✓

About each system

Sarie

Saudi Arabia's instant payment system launched by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) as part of the Vision 2030 digital transformation agenda. sarie (meaning "fast" in Arabic) enables 24/7 real-time transfers between banks and fintech providers via IBAN or mobile number, with settlement in seconds. Built on ISO 20022 messaging, it supports P2P, P2M, and bulk payments. The system is a key enabler of Saudi Arabia's goal to increase non-cash transactions to 70% by 2030.

SNP

Argentina's Sistema Nacional de Pagos enables instant interbank transfers supporting both push (credit) and pull (debit) payments via CBU (bank account), CVU (virtual wallet), or alias (human-readable name). Operated by the BCRA, it connects traditional banks and the rapidly growing fintech/e-wallet ecosystem (Mercado Pago, Ualá, etc.). Transferencias 3.0 extended the system with interoperable QR codes for merchant payments, making it one of Latin America's most feature-rich instant payment platforms.