Ripple and Thunes: Revolutionizing Cross-Border Payments and Financial Inclusion

In an era where cross-border payments remain a $250 trillion-a-year puzzle of inefficiency and exclusion, Ripple’s 2025 strategic expansion with Thunes has emerged as a disruptive force. By integrating blockchain and digital asset technologies into Thunes’ Direct Global Network, the partnership is not only redefining the speed and cost of international transactions but also addressing systemic gaps in financial inclusion. For investors, this collaboration represents a dual opportunity: a catalyst for fintech innovation and a bridge to underserved markets.

Strategic Expansion: A New Infrastructure Paradigm

Ripple’s partnership with Thunes has evolved from a 2020 collaboration into a full-scale infrastructure overhaul. By leveraging Ripple Payments and On-Demand Liquidity (ODL), Thunes now enables real-time cross-border settlements in 130 countries and 80 currencies, slashing transaction costs by up to 70% compared to traditional systems like SWIFT [1]. Ripple Payments, which processes over $70 billion in volume across 90+ payout markets, has become the backbone of this transformation, offering near-global coverage and scalability [5].

This expansion is particularly significant for financial institutions and enterprises seeking to navigate fragmented regulatory environments. As stated by a report from The Paypers, the integration of Ripple’s blockchain-powered infrastructure with Thunes’ 7 billion connected mobile wallets and bank accounts creates a “seamless, low-cost transaction ecosystem” [5]. For example, businesses can now execute real-time payouts in local currencies—critical for e-commerce and remittance platforms operating in regions with volatile fiat currencies.

Financial Inclusion: Bridging the Last-Mile Gap

The partnership’s impact on financial inclusion is equally profound. In emerging markets, where over 1.4 billion adults remain unbanked, Thunes and Ripple have deployed mobile money integrations with platforms like M-Pesa (Kenya) and GCash (Philippines). These partnerships enable “last-mile” delivery of payments in areas where traditional banking infrastructure is either absent or prohibitively expensive [3].

Data from AINvest highlights that Ripple’s ODL product, which uses XRP as a liquidity bridge, reduces settlement times from days to seconds while cutting fees by up to 80% [6]. For migrant workers sending remittances to rural communities, this means faster access to funds without the need for intermediaries. According to a 2025 report by Bankless Times, the collaboration has already facilitated over $2 billion in cross-border transactions for underbanked populations, a figure projected to grow as local payment networks expand [3].

Fintech Market Positioning: A Race for Dominance

Ripple’s alliance with Thunes positions it as a formidable player in the fintech arms race. With traditional banks and SWIFT struggling to modernize, blockchain-based solutions are capturing market share. Thunes’ Direct Global Network, now augmented by Ripple’s infrastructure, competes directly with giants like Western Union and Wise by offering faster, cheaper, and more transparent services [2].

For investors, the partnership’s scalability is a key metric. Ripple Payments’ ability to handle $70 billion in annual volume—up from $12 billion in 2023—demonstrates its growing adoption among institutional clients [5]. Meanwhile, Thunes’ expansion into 80 currencies and 130 countries underscores its role as a gateway for global commerce. As Electronic Payments International notes, this synergy creates a “network effect” that could accelerate adoption in sectors like e-commerce, B2B payments, and decentralized finance (DeFi) [4].

Regulatory Compliance: A Pillar of Trust

Critics often cite regulatory uncertainty as a barrier to blockchain adoption. However, Ripple and Thunes have embedded compliance into their infrastructure. The partnership includes automated AML and KYC tools, ensuring that transactions meet institutional standards. As a 2025 analysis by AINvest emphasizes, this focus on compliance has attracted Tier-1 financial institutions seeking to mitigate risk while embracing innovation [6].

Conclusion: A Win-Win for Investors and the Unbanked

Ripple’s strategic expansion with Thunes is more than a technological upgrade—it’s a reimagining of global finance. By reducing costs, accelerating settlements, and expanding access to underbanked populations, the partnership addresses both market inefficiencies and social equity gaps. For investors, the combination of Ripple’s blockchain expertise and Thunes’ global network offers a compelling long-term bet on the future of fintech.

As the world moves toward a more interconnected and inclusive financial system, the Ripple-Thunes model may well become the blueprint for cross-border payments in the 21st century.

Source:
[1] Thunes and Ripple Expand Global Partnership to Transform Cross-Border Payments [https://www.thunes.com/news/thunes-and-ripple-expand-global-partnership-to-transform-cross-border-payments/]
[2] Ripple, Thunes Join Forces on Cross-Border Push [https://www.pymnts.com/partnerships/2025/thunes-and-ripple-team-to-bolster-cross-border-payments/]
[3] Ripple & Thunes Partner To Transform Cross Border... [https://www.banklesstimes.com/articles/2025/09/03/ripple-thunes-partner-to-transform-cross-border-payments/]
[4] Thunes and Ripple expand cross-border payments [https://thepaypers.com/crypto-web3-and-cbdc/news/thunes-and-ripple-expand-partnership]
[5] Thunes and Ripple expand partnership [https://thepaypers.com/crypto-web3-and-cbdc/news/thunes-and-ripple-expand-partnership]
[6] Ripple's Strategic Expansion with Thunes: A Catalyst for... [https://www.ainvest.com/news/ripple-strategic-expansion-thunes-catalyst-blockchain-driven-global-payments-2509/]