[quinnchr]

Where are you finding your information for the 10% number? I'd be curious to see. From what I've read formal financial institutions typically charge ~10% which is why poorer people tend to use hawala in the first place.

"El Qorchi et al. (2003) state that the cost of a hawala transaction averages around 2 to 5 percent of the total amount of the funds involved, although Maimbo (2005) report that these fees averaged 1 to 2 percent in Afghanistan. Passas (1999) offers several examples where hawaladars offer free services to their compatriots, in the corridor Australia-Africa."

https://ideas.repec.org/p/una/unccee/wp0812.html

You make an interesting point about bitcoin being a potential hedge against inflation. Given the current volatility I don't see that being much use at the moment, but it certainly has potential if the volatility ever drops to a reasonable level.