Ripple’s momentum in the global payments landscape is nearing an inflection point, largely bolstered by advancements from its strategic partner, Thunes. As the demand for more efficient international payment solutions grows, Thunes has made a significant announcement that may enhance cross-border settlement capabilities.
Thunes has launched real-time payment capabilities within the United States via a direct connection with a Tier 1 financial institution. This new development will enable access to Automated Clearing House (ACH), Same-Day ACH, and various real-time payment options, marking a substantial step for the company. As Thunes broadens its international operations, it boasts 50 Money Transmitter Licenses, allowing it to function across every state and territory in the U.S., which mirrors Ripple’s regulatory footprint. Both Thunes and Ripple have now achieved independent institutional-grade access to U.S. clearing systems, strengthening their market presence.
Currently, Thunes operates in 140 countries, supports 90 currencies, and connects to over 12 billion mobile wallets, stablecoin wallets, and bank account endpoints. The recent enhancement of its partnership with Ripple, initiated in September 2025, enabled Thunes to integrate blockchain and digital asset technologies into its global network. With this integration, Thunes is able to leverage Ripple payments to bolster its SmartX Treasury System.
Moreover, Thunes has added real-time U.S. settlement capabilities into its existing network, which utilizes Ripple’s blockchain payment infrastructure and XRP as a bridge asset. This integration allows money to flow into the U.S. from over 140 countries using rails linked to Ripple technology.
The Ripple payments ecosystem has demonstrated impressive coverage, achieving more than $70 billion in transaction volume across over 90 payout markets. This integration grants XRP an expedited route to Tier 1 U.S. banking—thanks to Thunes, which holds licenses in all states.
In the realm of institutional investments, the XRP Ledger is experiencing noteworthy growth. As of April, the real-world asset ecosystem exceeded $3 billion in tokenized value. Insights from Luke Judges, Partner Director at RippleX, shared during Istanbul Blockchain Week, suggest a promising trajectory for real-world asset tokenization. The surge in tokenized value is largely attributed to a diversified mix of assets, highlighting the Ledger’s expanding utility in institutional finance.
Looking ahead, industry analysts anticipate that the next major growth wave will revolve around cash and cash-equivalent assets, with money market funds and U.S. Treasury bills among the primary candidates for infrastructure innovation. This aligns with a broader vision aimed at creating a globally distributed financial system, where regulated assets can be traded seamlessly across different asset classes via a unified order book.
