Ripple’s global payments narrative appears to be gaining renewed traction following a significant development from its key partner, Thunes. The fintech company has unveiled new capabilities that could further bolster cross-border settlement infrastructure, a critical area as demand for faster, cheaper, and more efficient international payments continues to surge. Strategic alliances like the one with Thunes are instrumental in expanding the real-world utility of the XRP ecosystem.
Thunes Enhances Global Payments Infrastructure
A recent announcement from Thunes could substantially strengthen XRP’s standing in the international payments arena. Analyst XFinanceBull, reporting on X, revealed that Thunes has officially launched real-time payment capabilities within the United States. This is achieved through a direct integration with a Tier 1 financial institution, granting access to ACH, Same-Day ACH, and all other real-time payment rails.
This advancement coincides with Thunes’ ongoing efforts to expand its international presence. The company holds 50 Money Transmitter Licenses, enabling it to operate across all U.S. states and territories, a reach that mirrors Ripple’s regulatory footprint. Both entities now possess independent, institutional-grade access to U.S. clearing systems.
Thunes’ existing network is extensive, covering 140 countries, supporting 90 currencies, and connecting to over 12 billion endpoints, including mobile wallets, stablecoin wallets, and bank accounts. Following an expanded partnership with Ripple in September 2025, Thunes integrated blockchain and digital asset technology into its global network, utilizing Ripple payments to enhance its SmartX Treasury System. Crucially, Thunes has now connected real-time U.S. settlement to the same network that leverages Ripple’s blockchain payment infrastructure and XRP as a bridge asset. This integration means that over 140 countries can now send money to the U.S. via payment rails connected to Ripple technology. Ripple payments boast near-global coverage, with over 90 payout markets processing more than $70 billion in volume. This development provides XRP with a direct conduit into Tier 1 U.S. banking through a partner licensed in every state.
Institutional Interest Fuels XRP Ledger Growth
The real-world asset (RWA) ecosystem on the XRP Ledger officially surpassed $3 billion in tokenized value in April. According to analyst BankXRP, insights shared by Luke Judges, Partner Director at RippleX, at Istanbul Blockchain Week, highlight the trajectory of momentum in real-world asset tokenization. The $3 billion milestone is attributed to a highly diversified mix of assets, underscoring the XRP Ledger’s expanding institutional utility across various financial segments.
Looking ahead, the next significant growth phase is anticipated to focus on cash and cash-equivalent assets. Money market funds and U.S. Treasury bills, alongside tokenized equities, are being identified as prime candidates for disruption. The overarching vision is the creation of a globally distributed financial system where regulated assets can be traded seamlessly across different classes through a unified order book.
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