Although the complexities inherent in cross-border payment systems have historically impeded rapid, cost-effective fund transfers, the strategic integration between Ripple’s blockchain-based On-Demand Liquidity platform and Thunes’ extensive Direct Global Network, encompassing over 7 billion mobile wallets and bank accounts across more than 130 countries and 80 currencies, constitutes a paradigmatic shift that not only accelerates settlement times from days to mere seconds but also markedly enhances financial inclusion for underbanked populations through seamless local currency payouts and robust support for over 320 payment methods, thereby challenging entrenched incumbents by leveraging innovative distributed ledger technology to facilitate near-real-time, transparent, and scalable international remittances with unprecedented reach and efficiency. This partnership expansion, formalized in September 2025, exemplifies the convergence of blockchain innovation with a global payments infrastructure, enabling Ripple’s corporate clientele—including banks, fintech firms, and crypto enterprises—to penetrate new geographies while effectuating instantaneous withdrawals in localized currencies, thus disrupting traditional cross-border payment paradigms dominated by legacy correspondent banking networks. By building on a collaboration established in 2020, the partnership has significantly improved consumer payout experiences and last-mile delivery through enhanced network capabilities. The solution’s foundation on blockchain technology ensures a secure and immutable transaction record, reinforcing trust across participating networks.
The market disruption engendered by this alliance is underpinned by the amalgamation of Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) product, which dramatically compresses settlement intervals from protracted multi-day periods to mere seconds, and Thunes’ SmartX Treasury System, which ensures consistent real-time disbursements even in regions characterized by limited banking penetration. Collectively, these technological synergies yield enhanced transactional speed and predictability, substantially mitigating frictions and delays historically associated with international remittances. Moreover, the integration’s expansive geographic and currency coverage—spanning over 130 countries and 80 currencies—facilitates extensive local currency payouts, fostering accessibility in emerging and frontier markets frequently underserved by conventional financial institutions. This collaboration supports the broader goal of enhancing global financial inclusion by providing a direct route to underserved customers in emerging nations. The alliance leverages Ripple’s blockchain-powered payments stack combined with Thunes’ network to provide more efficient on/off-ramps and deeper local connectivity for banks, fintechs, and crypto firms.
