SAN FRANCISCO — Freelancers and remote workers in more than 150 countries can now receive instant payments in local currency under a new partnership between Thunes and Ontop.
The collaboration allows Ontop users to access earnings in real time by tapping into Thunes’ Direct Global Network, which delivers funds directly to bank accounts in markets including Costa Rica, India, the Philippines, South Africa, Vietnam and the United Kingdom. The companies say the move removes delays and friction tied to traditional cross-border payments.
Expanding reach in the U.S. and Latin America
The partnership follows Thunes’ acquisition of money transmitter licences in all 50 U.S. states, announced in June. According to the companies, the deal will help Ontop grow its business customer base in the U.S. and Latin America while supporting freelancers in emerging markets where fast, secure payments are critical.
Thomas McAllister, chief financial services officer at Ontop, said: “Fast, reliable, and inclusive financial access is no longer a nice-to-have, it’s foundational to the future of global work. Partnering with Thunes allows us to deliver exactly that: real-time payouts, in local currency, to the people building the global economy.”
Freelance market on the rise
The World Bank estimates 1.57 billion people worldwide — about 47 per cent of the global workforce — are self-employed. The global freelance platform market is projected to grow more than 16 per cent annually between 2024 and 2030.
Kyle Rosen, head of Americas at Thunes, said the company’s platform offers “instant, cost-effective cross-border payments at scale” and that the partnership will give remote workers “a smoother, real-time payment experience” while boosting access to the global economy for skilled freelancers in emerging markets.
