Thunes ranks among top three in cross-border payments

Thunes has been ranked among the top three global leaders in cross-border payments infrastructure by Juniper Research, alongside Swift and Visa.

In its Cross-border Payments Market 2026-2030 study, Juniper assessed 14 infrastructure providers and found Thunes scored strongly for breadth of solutions, customer deployments, innovation and future business prospects.

The market is shifting, with providers competing less on transaction volumes alone and more on the technology behind their networks and the range of payment routes they support.

Thunes operates a cross-border payments network that links bank accounts, mobile wallets and stablecoin wallets through a single connection. It says the network reaches 12 billion bank accounts, mobile wallets and stablecoin wallets across 140 countries.

Market shift

Juniper's assessment focused on payment processing value and the breadth of supported use cases. That reflects broader changes in the sector, as businesses moving money internationally seek wider coverage across local payment systems and faster settlement options.

Interoperability was a central factor in the ranking. Analysts highlighted the importance of linking different payment rails across fragmented markets, particularly as real-time payments and alternative digital payment methods gain ground.

"Thunes performed particularly well in terms of the creativity and innovation of their platform, which has built a network of real-time payment connections that is disrupting the cross-border payments market. Its vast range of local partnerships also enables the platform to achieve strong interoperability across a range of diverse rails and markets," said Lorien Carter, Senior Research Analyst at Juniper Research.

Cross-border payments have become an increasingly contested segment for banks, card networks and specialist fintech providers. Many are expanding beyond traditional correspondent banking by linking directly to domestic instant payment schemes, wallet operators and other local payout channels.

Network reach

Thunes says its Direct Global Network gives members access to more than 90 currencies and more than 220 payment methods. It also says the network connects to 15 billion cards worldwide, in addition to bank, mobile wallet and stablecoin endpoints.

Its customers include banks, payment service providers, money transfer operators, fintech groups and large consumer technology platforms. Named network members include Uber, Deliveroo, Grab and WeChat.

For Thunes, the ranking provides an external measure of how a newer specialist provider compares with some of the largest established names in global payments infrastructure. Swift remains the dominant messaging network for international bank transfers, while Visa has built one of the world's largest card and payments networks.

"Securing a top-three global ranking alongside two of the industry's most established players is a massive milestone for Thunes. By achieving deep interoperability across billions of endpoints and diverse, often fragmented markets, we are delivering the real-time, 24/7 global connectivity that Juniper identifies as the future of the cross-border economy," said Chloé Mayenobe, Deputy CEO of Thunes.

Thunes is headquartered in Singapore and has offices in 14 locations, including London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Paris and San Francisco. Its international footprint reflects the global nature of the market it serves, where payment providers often need local relationships across multiple jurisdictions to complete transfers efficiently.

The ranking also highlights how digital asset-linked payment routes are being incorporated into broader cross-border payment networks. Thunes includes stablecoin wallets among the endpoints connected through its system, illustrating how some infrastructure providers are combining conventional banking channels with newer forms of digital settlement.

That mix of rails has become more relevant as businesses and payment intermediaries look for faster, more flexible ways to move funds across borders. Providers that connect multiple local systems through a single access point aim to reduce the operational complexity clients would otherwise face from building separate integrations in each market.

"Juniper Research is the voice of authority in our field. Their recognition of Thunes as a leader in innovation, along Swift and Visa, provides a proven benchmark of reliability. It shows that the market trusts us to build the modern payment systems of the future," said Limousi.