Singapore-based cross-border payment company Thunes expands stablecoin exchange capabilities through a new collaboration with ApartmentAs payment infrastructure providers step up efforts to connect blockchain-based rails to traditional financial systems.
Thunes said that by joining Circle Payments Network Managed Payments, it allows its customers to access stablecoin-backed payments while continuing to work within their existing fiat-based workflows.
The partnership aims to improve interoperability in the global payments environment by connecting traditional banking systems, mobile wallets and digital asset networks.
The move builds on a relationship established in 2024, when Thunes and Circle began working together on stablecoin-backed liquidity.
Since then, Circle’s USDC stablecoin has been integrated into Thunes’ Direct Global Network, which covers over 140 countries.
Using USDC for near real-time payments has reduced reliance on traditional banking hours and reduced the need for heavy pre-funding in local nostro accounts, according to Thunes.
The company said this enables banks, money transfer operators and gig economy platforms in its network to manage liquidity around the clock, improve capital efficiency and expand connectivity between bank accounts, mobile wallets and stablecoin wallets.
Circle said the merger will support the further development of its payment network and expand access to the stablecoin-based solution for financial institutions globally.
The partnership highlights how stablecoins are increasingly being positioned as part of mainstream payment infrastructure rather than merely crypto trading tools.
The appeal for firms like Thunes lies in reducing liquidity friction in cross-border transfers and freeing up capital that would otherwise remain idle in correspondent banking arrangements.
Still, wider adoption will likely depend on regulatory clarity and whether financial institutions become more comfortable using stablecoins more deeply in their day-to-day payment flows.
