Mastercard Partners With Thunes to Enable Near-Instant Stablecoin Wallet Payouts Worldwide

Mastercard Bridges Fiat and Crypto Payouts Through New Thunes Partnership

Mastercard’s money-movement division, Mastercard Move, has partnered with Thunes to enable near-instant payouts to stablecoin wallets across more than 200 markets, marking another major step in merging traditional finance with blockchain infrastructure.

Announced on Nov. 13 at the Singapore Fintech Festival, the collaboration provides financial institutions using Mastercard Move with a new direct channel to settle transactions onto blockchain networks using regulated stablecoins — regardless of traditional banking hours.

“With Mastercard Move, we already enable transfers in 150 currencies to over 10 billion endpoints — including accounts, cards, and cash. With this collaboration, we’re adding stablecoin wallets to that mix,” said Pratik Khowala, Global Head of Transfer Solutions at Mastercard. “It’s all about giving end-users more choice and unlocking new possibilities for banks and payment service providers as digital currencies continue to grow.”

Mastercard Advances Stablecoin Integration Into Global Finance

For corporate and institutional clients, the new stability-focused architecture addresses several longstanding operational challenges. The ability to deliver near real-time, 24/7 cross-border payouts could significantly streamline processes such as global payroll, supplier settlements, and remittances — especially in regions where traditional banking rails are slow, limited, or expensive.

The initiative also intersects with global financial inclusion efforts. Mastercard’s network currently reaches over 95% of the world’s banked population.
By adding stablecoin wallets as a new payout endpoint, the company may offer a viable alternative for individuals in regions with insufficient banking infrastructure — assuming they have access to digital wallets and can navigate the technical requirements.

On the other side of the partnership, Thunes has built a strong reputation for connecting banks, digital wallets, and alternative payment systems in real time. Operating in 130 countries, the Singapore-based fintech enables instant transfers across fragmented financial systems — from mobile money platforms in emerging markets to established fintech ecosystems.

The partnership underscores the growing push from major financial institutions to incorporate blockchain-based settlement options into mainstream cross-border payment flows.