Thunes wins best cross-border payment solution award
Thunes has won the Best Cross-Border Payment Solution award at the MPE Awards 2026, which recognises payment providers serving merchants and marketplaces.
The award was presented at the Merchant Payments Ecosystem event in Berlin. In the cross-border category, judges said they were looking for providers that help businesses expand internationally while reducing foreign exchange risk, compliance strain and payment friction.
The criteria also highlighted multi-currency support, transparency and evidence of helping merchants enter new markets while maintaining trust and resilience in cross-border transactions.
Thunes says its network supports real-time payments in more than 140 countries and over 90 currencies. It also says the network connects to more than 12 billion mobile wallets, stablecoin wallets and bank accounts, as well as 15 billion cards through more than 220 payment methods.
Based in Singapore, the business has offices in 14 locations, including London, Paris, Dubai and San Francisco. Its customers include platforms, money transfer operators, financial technology firms, payment service providers and banks.
Judges' view
Neira Jones, Chairman of the MPE 2026 Awards judging panel, explained why the entry stood out.
"This year's cross-border entries showed how far we have come from clunky, costly international payments to genuinely global, real-time networks. One solution stood out for pairing competitive FX and fees with impressive reach across countries, currencies and local payment methods, including emerging markets. It combines mission-critical, often instant money movement with a mature compliance platform, optimised liquidity management and AI-driven treasury. With added use of blockchain and stablecoin infrastructure and a serious ESG agenda, it sets a high bar for cross-border payments done properly," said Jones.
The award comes amid growing competition among payment groups seeking more business from online merchants and digital marketplaces that need to move funds across multiple jurisdictions. Cross-border payments have become a focal point as businesses seek faster settlement, broader local payment acceptance and clearer foreign exchange pricing.
Providers in this market are also under pressure to show that compliance checks, liquidity arrangements and treasury systems can support higher payment volumes without adding delays. The judges' comments pointed to those issues alongside the use of blockchain and stablecoin infrastructure.
Company response
"We are incredibly proud to be recognised by the MPE Awards as the partner of choice for marketplaces and merchants navigating the complexities of cross-border money movement. Our goal is to dismantle the barriers to global trade and growth, and this award validates the breadth and depth of our Direct Global Network, FX capabilities and approach to compliance. Thank you to our incredible Thunesters and Members for making this possible," Abigail Slater, SVP Europe at Thunes, commented on the win.
The Merchant Payments Ecosystem awards focus on companies and individuals involved in merchant payment acceptance, including card acquiring, processing, payment services and newer payment technologies. The awards have been running since 2010 and are positioned as a European recognition programme for the sector.
For Thunes, the recognition comes as payment firms continue to compete on international reach and access to local payment methods in developed and emerging markets. According to the company, its network includes connections to services such as GCash, M-Pesa, Airtel, MTN, Orange, JazzCash, Easypaisa, AliPay and WeChat Pay.
Its member base includes companies such as Uber, Deliveroo, Grab and WeChat, according to Thunes. That mix reflects the range of businesses now relying on cross-border payouts and collections, from gig economy platforms to consumer applications and financial intermediaries.
The judges' description of the winning entry highlighted three themes shaping the market: foreign exchange and fee pricing, access across countries and currencies, and infrastructure that can support instant or near-instant transactions. It also underscored the importance of compliance systems and treasury management in determining which providers stand out.