Thunes' Award-Winning Blueprint for a Unified Global Payments Network

LONDON – December 04, 2025 – In an industry grappling with the fragmentation of legacy systems and the disruptive promise of new technologies, global payments firm Thunes has received a significant endorsement. The company was recently named 'Cross-Border Payment Infrastructure of the Year' at the 13th Annual Payments Awards, a credible industry event organized by FStech and Retail Systems. While awards can be fleeting, this recognition points to a deeper strategic current: a concerted effort to build a unified financial network that bridges the staid world of traditional banking with the fast-paced realm of digital assets.

For businesses managing global supply chains, procuring materials from overseas, or paying an international workforce, the complexities of cross-border payments are a persistent operational drag. High fees, slow settlement times, and a lack of transparency have long been accepted as the cost of doing business globally. Thunes, operating what it calls a "Smart Superhighway," is challenging this status quo not by replacing old rails, but by building connectors between them, a strategy this award validates as a winning formula.

The 'Smart Superhighway': Bridging Old and New Rails

Thunes' core innovation lies in its multi-rail approach, effectively creating an interoperability layer over the global payments landscape. The company’s win is largely attributed to a suite of solutions that address both established and emerging financial ecosystems. A key development is its Pay-to-Banks and Pay-to-Wallets solution, which cleverly leverages existing Swift connectivity. This allows traditional banks, without undertaking complex and costly new integrations, to use their familiar Swift rails to push payments directly onto Thunes' network, reaching over 130 countries and a vast array of mobile wallets.

This is particularly transformative for accessing emerging markets in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, where mobile money is often more prevalent than traditional banking. For a multinational corporation, this means the ability to pay a supplier or freelancer in a developing nation directly to their mobile wallet, with the transaction originating from a traditional bank account, processed in near real-time.

Simultaneously, Thunes is aggressively moving into the digital asset space. Its Pay-to-Stablecoin-Wallets solution enables network partners to send instant payouts to wallets holding stablecoins like USDC and USDT. This is not merely a nod to the crypto trend; it's a strategic integration of a technology known for its speed, low cost, and 24/7 settlement capabilities. By offering this alongside traditional fiat rails through a single API, Thunes gives businesses the flexibility to choose the most efficient payment method for any given transaction, a powerful tool for treasury and finance departments looking to optimize cash flow and reduce transactional friction. This is further enhanced by its "on-ramp" and "off-ramp" services, which provide compliant pathways for digital asset companies to allow users to fund accounts and withdraw fiat currency in over 40 markets.

"We're extremely proud to be recognised by the Payments Awards," said Abigail Slater, SVP, Europe at Thunes. "Cross-border payments are evolving rapidly, and our focus remains on creating a Network that is reliable, inclusive, and future-proofed, bringing unmatched value to our Members."

Navigating a Crowded and Complex Market

Thunes is executing its strategy within a fiercely competitive cross-border payments market, a sector projected to grow from over $200 billion in 2024 to nearly $365 billion by 2032. It contends with a diverse field of players, from other B2B payment network providers like Ripple, Wise, and Airwallex to the established dominance of traditional bank networks.

The company's competitive edge is built on three pillars: network reach, technological simplicity, and regulatory diligence. Its Direct Global Network, which connects to over 7 billion mobile wallets and bank accounts, provides a scale that is difficult to replicate. Unlike competitors who may focus solely on blockchain solutions or traditional remittances, Thunes’ single API approach, integrating multiple rails, simplifies the technical burden for its clients. A business can integrate once and gain access to a global, multi-faceted payment capability, significantly accelerating time-to-market.

This strategy is being fueled by significant financial backing. In April 2025, Thunes closed a $150 million Series D funding round co-led by private equity firms Apis Partners and Vitruvian Partners, with participation from existing investors like Visa and EDBI. The fundraise, achieved at a substantial valuation increase in a tight capital market, serves as a powerful vote of confidence from investors who see a clear path to disrupting the multi-trillion-dollar B2B payments space.

Mathieu Limousi, Chief Marketing Officer at Thunes, commented on the momentum, stating, "As demand for transparent and dependable instant cross-border payments accelerates, we're focused on pushing the boundaries of innovation while continuing to deliver the trust, scale and reach global businesses rely on."

From Regulatory Hurdles to Strategic Advantage

Perhaps the most significant, yet least glamorous, aspect of Thunes' strategy is its meticulous approach to regulation. In the world of global finance, moving money is less a technical challenge than a compliance one. The company recently achieved a critical milestone by securing all 50 Money Transmission Licenses (MTLs) required to operate across the United States.

This accomplishment, managed through its Thunes Financial Services LLC entity, cannot be overstated. The US presents a notoriously fragmented and demanding regulatory landscape for payment providers. By obtaining nationwide licensing, Thunes can now contract directly with US corporations and digital platforms, offering them a streamlined, compliant solution for international payments without the patchwork of partnerships typically required. This not only unlocks the vast US market but also signals to global partners a deep commitment to operating at the highest standards of regulatory integrity.

This US licensing complements its existing authorizations from key global regulators, including the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the UK's Financial Conduct Authority. This compliance-first foundation is powered by its proprietary "Fortress Compliance Platform," which uses dynamic risk scoring and AI-powered monitoring to build trust, a non-negotiable asset in the supply chain and financial services industries.

Powering Global Commerce and Financial Inclusion

Ultimately, the value of payment infrastructure is measured by its real-world impact. Thunes' network is not just an abstract collection of APIs and licenses; it is a conduit for economic activity that extends to the furthest links of the global supply chain. By enabling instant, low-cost payments to mobile wallets, the company is directly supporting financial inclusion.

Strategic partnerships with entities like Ecobank Group, which focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa, and Western Union are expanding real-time financial access for millions of individuals and small businesses in underserved regions. For SMEs, this infrastructure breaks down traditional barriers to international trade, allowing them to pay suppliers and receive payments from customers globally with the same ease as a domestic transaction. For the expanding gig economy, it means freelancers and remote workers can be paid instantly, regardless of their location.

By connecting these disparate economic islands—from a US corporation's bank account to a freelancer's mobile wallet in Southeast Asia—Thunes is doing more than just moving money. It is building a more interconnected and accessible global economy, one transaction at a time. This latest award confirms that its innovative and compliance-focused blueprint is not just a viable strategy, but a leading model for the future of global commerce.