Thunes: Global Payment Solutions for Emerging Markets

When you send money from the U.S. to a mobile wallet in Nigeria, or pay a supplier in Vietnam using a local bank account, you’re likely using Thunes, a global payment network that connects financial systems across emerging and frontier markets. Also known as a cross-border payments infrastructure, it’s the invisible backbone behind many apps and services that let people move money fast without banks. Unlike traditional wire systems that take days and charge high fees, Thunes works by linking local payment rails—mobile money, bank transfers, cash pickup networks—into one API. That means a fintech in Indonesia can offer instant payouts to users in Kenya, or a gig worker in Brazil can get paid in pesos without ever leaving their app.

Thunes doesn’t run its own wallets or banks. Instead, it integrates with over 1,000 local partners across 80+ countries, including mobile money providers like M-Pesa, bank networks in Latin America, and digital wallets in Southeast Asia. This lets businesses avoid the headache of dealing with 20 different local payment providers. For example, a company selling digital services in Pakistan can use Thunes to pay freelancers in Bangladesh via bKash, or send dividends to shareholders in Egypt through Fawry—all through a single connection. The result? Faster payouts, lower costs, and better compliance since Thunes handles local regulations, currency conversion, and fraud checks behind the scenes.

Thunes is especially critical in markets where traditional banking is limited. In places like Ghana, the Philippines, or Colombia, most people don’t have bank accounts but do use mobile money. Thunes bridges that gap, turning smartphones into financial gateways. It’s used by remittance platforms, gig economy apps, e-commerce sites, and even crypto exchanges that need to convert digital assets into real cash for users on the ground. What makes Thunes different isn’t the tech—it’s the focus on real-world access. While other platforms chase wealthy markets, Thunes builds connections where the need is greatest and the infrastructure is weakest.

Behind every fast transfer you’ve seen in an emerging market app, there’s likely a Thunes integration. Whether you’re a business trying to pay global contractors or an investor tracking how fintech is reshaping money flow in Africa and Asia, understanding Thunes means understanding the future of global finance. Below, you’ll find real-world breakdowns of how companies use it, what it costs, how it compares to Wise or SWIFT, and why it’s becoming essential for anyone working across borders.