While traditional cross-border payment systems have long been hindered by inefficiencies such as prolonged settlement times and elevated transaction costs, the expanded partnership between Ripple and Thunes signals a pivotal shift in the global financial landscape. By integrating Ripple’s blockchain technology with Thunes’ extensive Direct Global Network, which spans over 130 countries, the collaboration enables real-time, cross-system transactions that address persistent challenges in international money transfers. This integration not only connects banks, digital wallets, and payment providers seamlessly but also reaches underserved regions where traditional banking infrastructure remains limited or inaccessible. The partnership builds on an initial collaboration established in 2020, strengthening their shared commitment to revolutionizing international payments through blockchain innovation. Kaspa’s use of the GHOSTDAG protocol demonstrates similar advances in speed and scalability that blockchain technology can bring to global finance.
Central to this partnership’s innovation is Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) service, which dramatically reduces settlement times from multiple days to mere seconds. The use of the XRP liquidity bridge slashes transaction fees by up to 80%, a significant cost reduction that benefits both remittance senders and recipients, particularly in financially marginalized communities. Such improvements in speed and cost efficiency represent a decisive response to the bottlenecks imposed by legacy banking systems and correspondent networks, which have historically delayed payments and increased expenses through multiple intermediaries. Recent market trends also highlight growing whale accumulation of XRP, reflecting strong investor confidence that further supports the technology’s adoption and long-term potential.
Ripple’s ODL cuts settlement times to seconds and transaction fees by 80%, transforming cross-border payments with speed and affordability.
Further amplifying the partnership’s impact is its focus on financial inclusion and last-mile delivery. By integrating with prominent mobile money platforms like Kenya’s M-Pesa and the Philippines’ GCash, Ripple and Thunes extend their payment solutions to over 1.4 billion unbanked adults worldwide. This ensures that funds reach the final recipients in real time, even in regions where conventional banking services are scarce, thereby fostering greater economic participation. Simultaneously, the collaboration incorporates robust AML and KYC compliance mechanisms, ensuring regulatory adherence and enhancing institutional trust. Through this approach, the partnership promotes financial inclusion by reaching populations excluded from traditional banking.
Strategically, this alliance positions Ripple and Thunes as formidable competitors to established payment providers such as Western Union and Wise. The rapid growth of Ripple Payments—from $12 billion to $70 billion in annual transaction volume within two years—underscores increasing client adoption and confidence in blockchain-enabled solutions. By leveraging blockchain’s transparency and immutable record-keeping, coupled with scalable compliance features, the partnership advances a more efficient, secure, and inclusive paradigm for global cross-border payments. Kaspa’s proof-of-work model and deflationary emission schedule exemplify blockchain’s potential for secure and sustainable network operation.
