Financial systems rely on payment infrastructures managed or overseen by central banks. These networks are split into two operational categories: Large-Value Payment Systems (LVPS) and Retail Payment Architectures. [1]

LVPS networks handle high-value, time-critical wholesale transactions, such as interbank loans, foreign exchange settlements, and corporate security payouts. Examples include the Fedwire system in the United States and the T2 system in the Eurozone.

Retail payment networks process high-volume, low-value consumer transactions, such as credit card charges, payroll deposits, and point-of-sale transfers. These systems prioritize high processing capacity, consumer ease of use, and low transaction fees over instant settlement speeds