Coinbase and Thunes announced plans Oct. 19 to connect stablecoin infrastructure with local payout channels, aiming to help cross-border payments reach recipients through bank accounts and mobile wallets.
Coinbase plans to integrate Thunes’ Direct Global Network into its platform, giving it routes to local clearing systems and other payment methods. Coinbase would also provide stablecoin infrastructure to Thunes. Both companies described the connection as planned.
Thunes says its existing network supports payments in more than 140 countries and more than 90 currencies. Those figures cover the network as a whole. The companies have not identified which countries or currencies the Coinbase integration would serve first.
The companies named supplier payments, gig worker payouts and remittances as intended uses. Their aim is to address a gap in cross-border stablecoin payments: moving value between countries does not complete a payment unless the recipient can collect funds through a local account or wallet. The announcements did not estimate savings for businesses or recipients.
Thunes deputy CEO Chloé Mayenobe said linking digital currencies to domestic financial systems is essential to their practical use. Coinbase head of infrastructure products Alec Lovett also emphasized the need for local payout connections.
Thunes has pursued other stablecoin payment arrangements. It announced a liquidity collaboration with Circle in October 2024 and said in April 2026 that it had joined Circle Payments Network Managed Payments.
Coinbase and Thunes did not announce a launch date, transaction fees or financial terms for their new arrangement.
