Singapore-based Airwallex just raised a fresh $300 million in Series F funding, bringing its total capital to over $1.2 billion and boosting its valuation to a lofty $6.2 billion. That’s not a typo; six point two. The news, reported on their website, makes Airwallex one of the region’s standout fintech unicorns, backed by big names like Tencent, DST Global, and Salesforce Ventures.

So how did a company that started in Melbourne in 2015 go global, attract over 150,000 customers, and convince some of the world’s savviest investors to keep the money flowing, especially in a fundraising climate that’s been anything but warm?

Let’s break it down.

What Makes Airwallex Special

In a world still struggling with outdated banking rails, Airwallex decided to redraw the map. They’ve built a global financial infrastructure from the ground up with products that support multi-currency accounts, virtual debit cards, expense management, and payment plugins for digital-first businesses.

But this isn’t just another cross-border payment tool. Airwallex serves over 150 countries and handles more than 60 currencies, helping companies like Qantas, Rippling, Shein, and JD.com move money across borders like it’s just another Tuesday.

“We’re building a new foundation for the global economy; fast, seamless, and built for scale.”

— Jack Zhang, Co-founder & CEO, Airwallex

Their annualized revenue hit $720 million this year, up 90% year-over-year, and they processed over $130 billion in payments. Numbers like that don’t go unnoticed.

What Airwallex really nailed was doing the hard stuff early. They didn’t just chase growth, but they made sure the foundations could actually support it. That meant locking in licenses in tricky markets like Hong Kong, Australia, Brazil, and Mexico, so they could move fast without tripping over regulations. And on the tech side, they built with developers in mind: clean APIs, easy integrations, no Frankenstein systems.

Why Investors Are Still Saying Yes

In a quarter where venture deal values in Asia-Pacific dropped 32% (KPMG), Airwallex raised one of Australia’s largest private funding rounds in the past five years. Why? Because their value proposition is laser-focused on solving global-scale pain points.

As Paul Bassat from lead investor Square Peg put it, Airwallex meets the “critical needs for a large and growing cohort of global-first, digital-first companies.”

Translation? The world’s going borderless, and traditional banking can’t keep up. Airwallex is positioning itself not just as a facilitator, but as a platform to replace the old system altogether; fast, seamless, and built for scale.

The trust of major backers like Tencent, DST Global, Visa Ventures, and Salesforce Ventures doesn’t hurt either.

What’s Next for Airwallex

Airwallex is pushing beyond payments and into banking, asset management, and retail investing, with licenses now in Hong Kong and Australia. They’re also scaling into Latin America, with operations now in Brazil and Mexico.

And yes, the whispers of an IPO in 2026 are getting louder.

In a competitive field where even giants like Stripe and Revolut are eyeing the same prize, Airwallex has carved out a space by being relentlessly focused on infrastructure, user experience, and global regulatory readiness.

It’s not just fintech. It’s financial architecture, reimagined.

Key takeaways for fintech startups

• Solving big pain points pays off: Airwallex succeeded by tackling a huge, global problem; outdated cross-border finance systems
  
  
• Infrastructure beats hype: Building a strong, scalable backend helped them earn trust and serious capital
  
  
• Investor confidence comes from clarity: Their sharp focus on enterprise-grade offerings for digital-first businesses makes them an attractive bet
  
  
• Going global requires local expertise: Licenses in major markets (Brazil, Mexico, Hong Kong, Australia) are helping them move fast, but compliantly
  
  
• Diversification is strength: Expanding into asset management and investment services sets the stage for long-term growth

Big vision, but need the right playbook? We help fintech startups build strong positioning, clear messaging, and real traction. Reach out.