Peanut Is Coming to Costa Rica
Pay via SINPE Movil — Costa Rica's central-bank-operated instant payment system. No DIMEX needed. Get notified.
Costa Rica has built one of Latin America's most successful real-time payment systems. SINPE Movil — operated directly by the Central Bank of Costa Rica — has achieved 76% adult adoption, making it one of the highest-penetration instant payment systems in the region. Phone-number-based transfers work at restaurants, cafes, sodas (local eateries), supermarkets, farmers' markets, and taxis. But full SINPE Movil access requires a Costa Rican bank account linked to a local mobile number, and getting the most out of the system requires a DIMEX (Documento de Identificacion de Migrantes y Extranjeros) for foreigners.
Peanut will remove those barriers. When we launch in Costa Rica, you will be able to pay via SINPE Movil at merchants and send money to anyone — without a DIMEX, without a Costa Rican bank account, and without a local phone number. Just verify with your passport. Your digital dollars will convert to colones at the market rate, plugging you into the same central-bank-operated payment system that Costa Ricans use every day. Whether you are a tourist surfing in Tamarindo, a digital nomad working from Santa Teresa, or sending money from the US to family in San Jose, Peanut will make it simple.
How It Will Work
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Deposit from anywhere
Send digital dollars from any exchange or wallet via Solana, Arbitrum, Base, Tron, or Ethereum. Gas fees covered. Or deposit from your bank via SEPA (Europe), ACH (US), or wire transfer. All deposits are free.
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Your balance stays in dollars
Your balance will be held in digital dollars until you spend. US dollars are widely accepted in Costa Rica, but SINPE Movil runs in colones — Peanut will handle the conversion automatically.
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Pay via SINPE Movil
Send to a phone number or scan a merchant QR code. Your dollars will convert to CRC at the market rate. No fees from Peanut.
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Instant settlement
The recipient will receive colones instantly in their bank account. SINPE Movil transfers settle in real time.
What Payment Methods Are Coming
SINPE Movil
SINPE Movil is Costa Rica's national instant payment system, operated directly by the Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR). Launched in 2015, it was one of the earliest successful real-time payment systems in Latin America. With 76% adult adoption and around 3 million users, SINPE Movil is how Costa Ricans pay for everyday goods and services.
The system is phone-number-based: enter a recipient's mobile number and the payment transfers instantly between bank accounts at any participating institution — BAC, Banco Nacional, BCR, Scotiabank, and others. Merchant QR codes are also integrated, expanding coverage to restaurants, cafes, sodas (local eateries), supermarkets, pulperias (corner stores), taxis, farmers' markets (ferias), and professional services.
What sets SINPE Movil apart is central bank operation. Unlike most mobile payment systems run by commercial entities, SINPE Movil is operated directly by the central bank, ensuring universal interoperability across all participating banks and financial institutions.
How it will work with Peanut: Open the Peanut app, enter the recipient's phone number or scan a merchant QR code. Review the amount in CRC and the exchange rate. Confirm — the payment arrives instantly.
No DIMEX needed. While foreigners can open bank accounts in Costa Rica with a passport (one of the more accessible LATAM countries), full SINPE Movil functionality and higher limits require a DIMEX. Peanut will accept passport verification from any country — no DIMEX, no local bank account required.
Full guide: Pay with SINPE Movil in Costa Rica
Exchange Rate: What to Expect
Costa Rica has a dual-currency environment — US dollars are commonly accepted alongside the colon (CRC), especially in tourist areas. But local payments via SINPE Movil are always in colones. Credit cards work at many establishments, but foreign transaction fees of 2-4% and poor exchange rates mean you are paying more than you should.
Peanut will convert digital dollars to colones at the market rate. The direct conversion path avoids the markup layers built into card transactions and traditional transfer services.
Rate lock: The rate will lock at the moment of payment. No slippage.
No fees. Peanut will charge nothing on deposits, SINPE Movil payments, or withdrawals. Gas fees on network transactions are covered.
Compare rates:
Who Will Use Peanut in Costa Rica
Tourists
Costa Rica is one of Central America's top tourist destinations, drawing visitors to its beaches, rainforests, volcanoes, and wildlife. From Tamarindo to Manuel Antonio to Arenal, SINPE Movil QR codes are appearing at restaurants, adventure tour operators, and local shops. But without a Costa Rican bank account, you are stuck with credit cards (plus fees) or carrying USD cash (which vendors accept at their own exchange rate — usually not in your favor).
Peanut will give you SINPE Movil access from day one. Pay at sodas, cafes, and surf shops the same way locals do — faster and cheaper than fumbling with cash or watching your card company skim 3% off every purchase.
Digital Nomads
Costa Rica is a top digital nomad destination, offering a dedicated digital nomad visa, reliable internet, excellent quality of life, and a welcoming expat community. Popular hubs include San Jose, Tamarindo, and Santa Teresa. But the nomad visa does not automatically give you a DIMEX, and without one, your SINPE Movil access is limited. You end up relying on USD cash and credit cards.
Peanut will let you pay via SINPE Movil without a DIMEX. Hold your earnings in digital dollars and convert to colones only when you pay — at the market rate, with no fees. Over months of living in Costa Rica, the savings versus credit card foreign transaction fees add up fast.
Guide: Send Money to Costa Rica
Info
Get Notified
Peanut is not yet live for spending in Costa Rica, but you can sign up now to be notified when SINPE Movil integration launches. When live, you will pay at merchants across the country — without a DIMEX, without a local bank account.
Today, you can already use Peanut to deposit and withdraw digital dollars in Costa Rica via supported networks like Solana and Arbitrum. SINPE Movil spending is coming next.
Verification: You will verify with a passport or national ID card from any country. No DIMEX required. Under 2 minutes for most users. Powered by Persona (SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, ISO 27001). Peanut never sees or stores your documents.
