Global cross-border payments provider Thunes has earned a place on CNBC and Statista’s World’s Top FinTech Companies 2026 list for the second consecutive year, underscoring the growing importance of interoperable payment infrastructure in international financial services. The recognition reflects increasing enterprise demand for platforms capable of connecting banks, digital wallets, real-time payment systems, and emerging digital asset networks through a unified global payments ecosystem.

Thunes, a global cross-border payments infrastructure provider, has once again been recognized in CNBC and Statista’s annual World’s Top FinTech Companies rankings in the Payments category.

The repeat recognition highlights the company’s expanding role in enabling interoperability across fragmented payment ecosystems as financial institutions, fintech companies, and enterprises increasingly seek faster, more seamless international money movement.

Compiled annually by CNBC in partnership with Statista, the rankings evaluate fintech companies based on commercial performance, innovation, market impact, and scalability across multiple financial services sectors.

For Thunes, the acknowledgment comes as cross-border payments continue evolving from traditional correspondent banking toward API-driven, real-time payment infrastructure.

Connecting Fragmented Payment Networks

At the center of Thunes’ strategy is its Direct Global Network, a payments infrastructure platform designed to connect financial institutions across multiple payment rails.

Rather than operating as a consumer payment application, the network functions as an interoperability layer linking banks, mobile wallets, domestic real-time payment systems, cards, and digital asset wallets into a unified global transaction network.

The company provides connectivity through two primary models.

Financial institutions can integrate directly into the Thunes platform using application programming interfaces (APIs), enabling access to cross-border payment capabilities without building multiple regional payment connections independently.

Alternatively, institutions connected through Swift can leverage the strategic partnership between the two organizations to initiate cross-border payouts without requiring separate technical integrations.

This hybrid approach reflects broader industry efforts to simplify global payment connectivity while reducing infrastructure complexity for banks and payment providers.

Expanding Global Financial Connectivity

According to the company, its payment infrastructure now supports connectivity across 140 countries, 90 fiat currencies, and approximately 12 billion bank accounts, mobile wallets, and stablecoin wallets.

The network also reaches 15 billion payment cards alongside more than 220 alternative payment methods, illustrating how cross-border payment providers are increasingly supporting multiple transaction channels beyond traditional banking infrastructure.

Recent additions to the network include financial institutions and payment providers such as Absa Bank, Ecobank, Mashreq, Mastercard, MTN Tanzania, Ripple, Sterling Bank, and WeChat Pay HK.

These partnerships reflect growing industry demand for payment interoperability as businesses seek to serve customers across diverse financial ecosystems.

Interoperability Becomes a Strategic Priority

Cross-border payments remain one of the most complex areas within financial services.

Historically, international transactions have relied heavily on correspondent banking relationships that often involve multiple intermediaries, longer settlement times, and higher operational costs.

Today’s enterprise customers increasingly expect payment infrastructure capable of supporting real-time settlement, transparent pricing, digital identity verification, regulatory compliance, and multiple payment formats across jurisdictions.

As a result, interoperability has become a central competitive differentiator for payment infrastructure providers.

Rather than replacing existing payment networks, platforms such as Thunes aim to integrate diverse financial ecosystems into a more connected global payments environment.

The company’s collaboration with Swift also reflects a broader trend toward modernizing established financial infrastructure rather than developing entirely separate payment ecosystems.

Enterprise Demand Continues Growing

The expansion of digital commerce, international marketplaces, embedded finance, and cross-border payroll has increased enterprise demand for scalable payment infrastructure.

Businesses increasingly require platforms capable of supporting supplier payments, remittances, marketplace settlements, treasury operations, and customer payouts across multiple countries through a single technical integration.

Technology providers including Microsoft, Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Salesforce continue supporting this transformation through cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and application integration capabilities that enhance payment operations and fraud prevention.

As financial institutions modernize legacy infrastructure, interoperability platforms are becoming foundational components of global financial connectivity.

Cross-border payments represent one of fintech’s largest growth opportunities.

According to McKinsey & Company, global payments continue generating significant revenue growth as digital commerce expands and international business activity increases. Meanwhile, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has identified faster, more transparent, and lower-cost cross-border payments as a strategic priority for the global financial system.

Industry participants are increasingly investing in API-based payment infrastructure, real-time settlement, digital wallets, and stablecoin connectivity to improve international money movement.

Against this backdrop, Thunes’ continued recognition highlights the increasing role of interoperability platforms that bridge traditional banking infrastructure with emerging digital payment ecosystems.

Market Landscape

The payments industry is rapidly transitioning toward interoperable, API-first financial infrastructure capable of supporting banks, wallets, payment networks, and digital assets through unified connectivity.

Research from McKinsey & Company indicates that cross-border payments remain a major driver of fintech innovation, while the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) continues promoting initiatives to improve the speed, transparency, and accessibility of international payments.

As enterprises expand globally, scalable payment interoperability is expected to become a defining capability across modern financial infrastructure.

Top Insights

• Thunes has been recognized by CNBC and Statista among the World’s Top FinTech Companies for the second consecutive year in the Payments category.
• The company’s Direct Global Network connects banks, wallets, payment systems, cards, and stablecoin infrastructure across 140 countries through interoperable payment rails.
• Strategic partnerships with Swift and major financial institutions simplify international payouts without requiring extensive new infrastructure investments.
• Enterprise demand for unified cross-border payment connectivity continues rising alongside global digital commerce, embedded finance, and international business expansion.
• Payment interoperability is emerging as a core differentiator as financial institutions modernize legacy payment infrastructure for real-time global money movement.

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