Thunes Integrates Circle's EURC Stablecoin for 24/7 Euro Settlements

Singapore-based cross-border payments infrastructure provider Thunes has added EURC, Circle's MiCA-compliant euro-backed stablecoin, to its Direct Global Network. The integration enables eligible network members to prefund euro-denominated transactions at any hour, bypassing the settlement delays imposed by traditional banking schedules and public holidays.

The stablecoin operates across four blockchains: Ethereum, Solana, Base, and Stellar. Thunes describes its infrastructure as network-agnostic, allowing treasury managers to choose the settlement rail that aligns with their operational needs or cost considerations without committing to a single blockchain.

This EURC rollout represents the second stage of Thunes' collaboration with Circle, which launched in October 2024 when the company introduced USDC-powered liquidity to the same network. The phased approach mirrors a common pattern in cross-border infrastructure: deploy the dollar-denominated stablecoin first, then layer in the euro product once the regulatory environment stabilises.

That regulatory clarity arrived with the Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation, which took full effect across the European Union in late 2024. MiCA established the EU's first comprehensive licensing regime for asset-referenced and e-money tokens. For treasury teams at regulated financial institutions — particularly those holding EU banking licences or serving EU-resident customers — MiCA compliance removes the need to classify the stablecoin as an unregulated instrument for risk and reporting purposes.

Chloé Mayenobe, deputy CEO at Thunes, said, "By offering a fully MiCA-compliant Euro asset across five leading blockchains, we are giving our partners the ultimate flexibility to move value 24/7, capture traffic spikes, and manage treasury flows instantly and securely."

Kash Razzaghi, chief commercial officer at Circle, positioned the integration as converting stablecoin utility into practical operational value for businesses managing modern cross-border payment flows.

Thunes operates in a contested space. Competitors including Ripple, Fireblocks, and banking-as-a-service platforms with treasury tools have built corridors using stablecoins or tokenised deposits to shorten settlement windows and extend operating hours. Thunes differentiates itself by network reach: the company claims its Direct Global Network connects to over 90 fiat currencies, making the EURC bridge commercially relevant for corridors where a euro entry point feeds into emerging-market fiat exits rather than purely intra-EU routes.

The intended customer base is specific. Thunes targets fintechs, neobanks, payment service providers, and gig-economy platforms as eligible network members. These organisations typically run lean treasury operations and prioritise operational continuity over weekends and public holidays — precisely the gap that 24/7 stablecoin prefunding fills compared with correspondent banking arrangements.

For Web3-native firms, Thunes says the integration eliminates a conversion step: instead of converting digital-asset holdings to fiat before funding a payment, a company can draw directly from a euro-denominated stablecoin treasury. This reduces both operational friction and foreign-exchange exposure on the funding leg.

Key indicators to monitor include adoption rates among existing network members, whether Thunes expands the Circle partnership to additional stablecoin denominations, and how regulators treat stablecoin-funded payment flows under the EU's ongoing PSD3 implementation. PSD3 governs payment service licensing alongside but separately from MiCA, and its final form will shape operational requirements for platforms like Thunes.