Exclusive Interview with Thunes Deputy CEO: Payment Infrastructure is the Invisible Pillar of Financial Inclusion

Introduction

Cross-border payments are often simplified as a matter of speed or cost, but for hundreds of millions of families that rely on international remittances, they are a financial lifeline. When wages, alimony, or emergency aid are delayed due to payment lags, the consequences are often more than just inconvenience—they can mean overdue bills, food shortages, or even mental anxiety. However, the underlying infrastructure supporting global payments remains fragmented, opaque, and often marginalized in discussions about financial inclusion. Chloé Mayenobe, Deputy CEO of Thunes, emphasized in an interview with FinTech Magazine that payment infrastructure should be regarded as a core pillar of financial inclusion, rather than an insignificant technical detail behind the scenes.

Industry Background: Why Is Infrastructure Overlooked?

The global cross-border remittance market is vast, but the problem of inefficiency is deeply entrenched. According to World Bank data, the global average remittance cost in 2025 is still as high as 6.36%, more than double the UN Sustainable Development Goal of 3%. Chloé pointed out that payment infrastructure is overlooked because it 'runs in the background'—people do not see how it operates, yet they directly suffer the consequences of its inefficiency.

“Financial inclusion is not just about opening an account; it’s also about usability,” she said. “If systems are not interconnected, individuals and businesses cannot fully participate in economic activities.” Currently, banks, mobile wallets, real-time payment networks, and emerging digital asset wallets operate in silos with a lack of interoperability, making cross-border transfers expensive and slow.

Current Developments: Thunes' Interoperability Solution

Thunes is committed to building a network that connects global payment systems, covering more than 140 countries, breaking down barriers between banks, mobile wallets, and digital asset wallets. Chloé explained: “Domestically, payments can be completed instantly; once cross-border, the experience can change completely. That’s the gap we address.”

A study jointly conducted by Thunes and Juniper Research revealed the true cost of delays: 61% of international payment recipients have experienced unpaid bills, financial strain, or needing to borrow money due to delays, and among heavy remittance-dependent users, this figure is as high as 83%. One-third of respondents struggled to pay for food or rent due to delays, and 42% reported stress or anxiety as a result. These numbers underscore the urgency of infrastructure improvement.

Impact on the Financial System

Payment Efficiency

Real-time payment networks are expanding globally, and users expect cross-border payment experiences to match domestic ones. 56% of users rank real-time arrival as the most important feature, ahead of cost and security. However, 41% of users say the final amount received is not disclosed in advance, and the lack of transparency erodes trust. Thunes, through unified connectivity and standardized data processing, can reduce delays and disclose fees in advance, thereby improving overall efficiency.### Financial Inclusion For vulnerable groups, particularly gig economy workers and migrants, cross-border payments are fundamental to daily economic participation. Research shows that gig workers rely on cross-border payments more than twice as often as the general population, and 41% of them pay over 3% in fees per transaction. By connecting mobile wallets (which now move more funds than traditional financial networks in many regions), Thunes enables banks to directly reach the unbanked population, reducing remittance costs and accelerating settlement times.

Banking Competition Traditional banks face competitive pressure from fintech companies and emerging payment networks in cross-border payments. Chloé believes that banks need to partner with fintechs, leveraging infrastructure like Thunes to offer real-time cross-border services without rebuilding their systems. Such collaboration helps banks retain customers while lowering operational costs.

Compliance Costs While compliance is essential, fragmented regulatory frameworks increase costs. Chloé calls on policymakers to promote interoperability across jurisdictions—for example, by following Europe's SEPA initiative or mandating standard data formats like ISO 20022. These measures can provide a common language for banks and fintechs, reducing compliance friction.

Risk Management Payment delays cause not only economic losses but also credit and reputational risks. Through real-time fund visibility and reconciliation capabilities, Thunes' infrastructure helps financial institutions better monitor fund flows, reducing the risks of fraud and operational errors.

Challenges

Data Privacy and Cybersecurity As systems become interconnected, the attack surface for data breaches and cyber threats expands. Chloé emphasizes that security must be the top priority in any interconnection solution. Thunes uses encryption and compliance frameworks to protect transaction data, but the entire industry needs to strengthen collaboration to address evolving threats.

Technology Integration Traditional banking systems were mostly designed in the last century and are incompatible with modern APIs and distributed ledger technologies. Overhauling legacy systems is costly and risky, so many financial institutions progress slowly. Thunes partially solves this by offering plug-and-play connectivity modules, but full industry-wide upgrades will take time.

Regulatory Uncertainty The cross-border use of digital assets and stablecoins faces different rules across countries, such as varying AML requirements and data localization regulations. Chloé points out that regulatory inconsistency is a major cause of fragmentation. "Better framework coordination and unified technical standards would make it easier for systems to connect across borders."

Future OutlookChloé believes that over the next three to five years, interoperability innovations will have the greatest impact. She is particularly concerned about the risk of fragmentation in the digital asset space: "Interoperability is not just a fiat currency issue. As more fintechs, financial institutions, and even non-financial brands issue their own tokens or operate on different chains, fragmentation may accelerate faster than in traditional payments." Thunes is focused on bridging the fiat and digital asset worlds, eliminating friction to deliver a consistent and inclusive experience for businesses and consumers.

Ultimately, the upgrade of payment infrastructure will enable money to flow as freely as information. Policymakers, banks, and fintechs need to continue collaborating to build a truly global payment network, turning financial inclusion from a slogan into reality.