How to Send Israeli Shekels Internationally with BILS (2026 Guide)

Sending Israeli shekels abroad has always been painful. SWIFT transfers take 3-5 business days, fees are high, and exchange rates are unfavorable. BILS changes all of that.

This guide explains exactly how to send shekels internationally using BILS — Israel's first regulated shekel stablecoin — faster, cheaper, and with full regulatory compliance.

The problem with traditional international shekel transfers

When you send shekels internationally through a bank, here's what actually happens:

Your Israeli bank converts your ILS to USD or EUR, sends it via SWIFT through one or more correspondent banks, the recipient's bank converts it back to their local currency, and you lose money at every step through fees and exchange rate spreads.

The typical cost of an international wire transfer from Israel: - Bank fee: ₪50–₪150 per transfer - SWIFT intermediary fees: $15–$40 - Exchange rate spread: 1–3% - Processing time: 3–5 business days

For a ₪10,000 transfer, you could easily lose ₪300–₪500 in fees alone.

How BILS solves international shekel transfers

BILS runs on the Solana blockchain — one of the fastest and cheapest blockchains in the world. Here's what a BILS transfer looks like:

- Transaction fee: less than $0.01 - Processing time: under 5 seconds - Available: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including Shabbat and holidays - No correspondent banks, no SWIFT, no intermediaries

The recipient receives BILS tokens — each worth exactly 1 Israeli shekel — and can convert them back to their local currency or hold them as shekels.

Step-by-step: How to send shekels internationally with BILS

Step 1: Get BILS tokens

First, you need BILS tokens. Currently, BILS is issued exclusively by Bits of Gold, Israel's licensed crypto exchange.

- Create an account on Bits of Gold - Complete KYC verification (Israeli ID or passport) - Link your Israeli bank account - Deposit ILS and receive BILS at exactly 1:1

Step 2: Set up a Solana wallet

To send BILS internationally, you need a Solana-compatible wallet. We recommend:

- Phantom — most popular, available as browser extension and mobile app - Solflare — feature-rich with hardware wallet support - Backpack — modern multi-chain wallet

Download your chosen wallet, create a new wallet, and save your seed phrase in a secure location. Never share your seed phrase with anyone.

Step 3: Transfer BILS to your wallet

From your Bits of Gold account, withdraw your BILS tokens to your Solana wallet address. Double-check the address before confirming — Solana transactions are irreversible.

Step 4: Send BILS to the recipient

The recipient needs a Solana wallet address to receive BILS. Once you have their address:

- Open your wallet - Select BILS token - Enter the recipient's Solana wallet address - Enter the amount - Confirm the transaction

The transfer completes in under 5 seconds, regardless of where the recipient is in the world.

Step 5: Recipient converts BILS to local currency

The recipient can:

- Hold BILS as shekel-denominated savings - Swap BILS for USDC or USDT on a Solana DEX like Jupiter - Convert back to their local fiat currency through a local exchange

Who can benefit from BILS international transfers?

Israeli expats sending money home If you live abroad and want to send money to family in Israel, BILS lets you send shekels directly without going through expensive remittance services.

Freelancers and remote workers Israeli freelancers working for international clients can request payment in BILS and receive shekels directly, avoiding currency conversion entirely.

Israeli businesses with international suppliers Companies that pay international suppliers can settle invoices in BILS, avoiding SWIFT delays and reducing banking fees.

Real estate and investment transfers Investors moving capital to or from Israel for real estate transactions can use BILS to transfer shekel-denominated amounts efficiently.

BILS vs traditional bank wire: comparison

Important considerations

Regulatory compliance: BILS is fully regulated by Israel's Capital Market Authority. All transactions are compliant with Israeli financial regulations, including KYC and AML requirements.

Recipient requirements: The recipient must have a Solana wallet to receive BILS. If they want to convert to fiat, they need access to a crypto exchange in their country.

Tax implications: Cryptocurrency transactions may have tax implications in Israel and in the recipient's country. Consult a tax advisor for guidance specific to your situation.

Irreversibility: Like all blockchain transactions, BILS transfers are irreversible once confirmed. Always verify the recipient's wallet address before sending.

The future of international shekel transfers

BILS represents a fundamental shift in how Israeli shekels can move internationally. As adoption grows and more exchanges list BILS, converting to and from local currencies will become easier for recipients worldwide.

Bits of Gold has indicated plans to expand partnerships with financial institutions and payment providers — which could eventually allow BILS to be received directly into bank accounts in other countries.

For now, BILS is already the fastest and cheapest way to send Israeli shekels internationally — and it's only getting started.

For more information about BILS, visit our complete educational guide at bilstoken.com.

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.