Trolley expands global payouts with Thunes network

Trolley has integrated Thunes' Direct Global Network into its payout platform, expanding the Canadian company's international payout options for freelancers and creators.

The integration allows Trolley's business customers to send instant payments to recipients through local bank accounts and mobile wallets in more markets. Those customers include platforms, publishers, distributors and other internet businesses that pay contributors and contractors in multiple countries.

Trolley already works with companies including SoundCloud, Canva, Epic Games, Nexus and Airtasker on global payouts. It focuses on payments to creators, musicians, freelancers and contractors, alongside tax compliance and identity verification.

According to Thunes, its network connects to 12 billion mobile wallets and bank accounts across 140 countries, supports 90 currencies and provides access to more than 220 local payment methods through a single integration.

That reach is particularly relevant in regions where mobile wallets and real-time payment schemes are widely used, including parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America. For companies that rely on external workers, access to local payout methods can reduce the need to build separate regional payment arrangements.

The agreement reflects a broader shift in the labour market as platforms seek faster ways to pay international workers. In creator and gig economy businesses, payout speed has become a competitive issue because workers often choose platforms partly based on how quickly they can access their earnings.

Thunes cited industry data showing that 90% of gig workers prioritise quick access to funds when choosing payout systems. That puts pressure on payment providers and platforms to offer local disbursement methods that avoid delays tied to cross-border banking processes.

Market demand

The cross-border payouts market has grown alongside the rise of freelance platforms, creator marketplaces and global contractor hiring. Businesses that once paid a smaller number of suppliers now often need to send high volumes of lower-value payments to individuals in dozens of countries, each with different banking infrastructure and preferred ways of receiving funds.

In many markets, mobile wallets have become more common than traditional bank transfers for everyday payments. That has made wallet connectivity an important part of payout infrastructure for companies seeking to reach workers who may not use conventional banking services or who prefer instant settlement.

Kyle Rosen, Head of North America at Thunes, said the arrangement would help platforms meet those expectations.

"Businesses today need to provide specialized, local payment options to attract and keep global talent. By welcoming Trolley into our Network, we are helping platforms deliver the payout flexibility and speed that modern recipients demand, anywhere in the world," said Kyle Rosen, Head of North America at Thunes.

Platform reach

According to the company, Trolley processes payouts to more than 210 countries and regions and supports more than 6 million payees worldwide. It says it handles billions of dollars in payouts each year.

The company has built its business around sectors where large numbers of individuals need to be paid outside standard payroll systems. That includes creator platforms, music businesses, freelance marketplaces and contractor networks, where payout operations are often tied to onboarding, compliance checks and tax reporting.

By using Thunes' network, Trolley is seeking broader access to local payment rails that can be difficult to reach directly. The companies said this should allow Trolley's clients to pay recipients on demand while avoiding the complexity of setting up separate payment arrangements in each market.

Tim Nixon, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Trolley, said the integration broadens the options available to customers.

"This integration offers the best of both worlds in terms of reach and reliability. Trolley customers can access Thunes' trusted and expansive Network while delivering on-demand pay to gig workers and creators exactly when and where they need it. By tapping into Thunes' infrastructure, we can now offer our customers unparalleled access to local wallets and payment rails that were previously difficult to reach," said Tim Nixon, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Trolley.

Thunes, which is headquartered in Singapore, counts financial institutions, fintechs, payment service providers and large gig economy platforms among its network members. Its customers include Uber, Deliveroo, Grab and WeChat, underscoring growing demand for cross-border payment systems built around instant settlement and local payout methods.