Airwallex, the global financial platform originally founded in Melbourne in 2015 and now based in Singapore, has launched operations in Germany as of early February 2026. The company announced its entry on February 3 as part of its expanding presence across Europe. Germany is a large market for cross-border trade, and Airwallex sees opportunity because many local businesses still use older systems to move money internationally.

The platform helps companies send and receive international transfers, hold accounts in multiple currencies, and manage online payments. Airwallex reports a customer base of around 200,000 businesses globally and states that about 68 percent of payments on its network are processed instantly.

Airwallex enters a market where established competitors such as Wise, Adyen, and Stripe are already active. Tom Sellin, who is leading Airwallex’s growth efforts in Germany, described the competition as intense but noted that many cross-border flows remain insufficiently digitised.

Why Germany Matters

Sellin points to the export-oriented nature of many German companies. Payment speed across borders often does not match business needs. Airwallex believes its infrastructure can reduce friction for exporters, marketplaces, and digitally focused firms operating internationally.

Airwallex operates in Europe under a Dutch e-money licence issued in 2021. This licence allows it to provide services across the European Union and forms the regulatory basis for its German launch.

Early Adoption and Local Investment

One of the first customers highlighted in Germany is the Berlin-based fintech Moss, which provides spend management and corporate payment solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises. This early relationship shows interest from within the local fintech ecosystem.

Airwallex has committed to investing 31 million euros in Germany over the next five years. The investment will focus on building a local team and establishing a presence in Berlin.

In 2025, Airwallex raised 280 million euros in funding, bringing its valuation to about 6.9 billion euros. The company has previously raised more than 1.2 billion dollars in total funding and reported recurring revenue of roughly 1 billion dollars last year.

Challenges and Market Context

Germany’s fintech and payments sector is crowded. Providers such as Wise, Adyen, and Stripe already offer international transfer and multi-currency solutions. For Airwallex, gaining local trust and standing out on product capabilities will be part of the initial task. The company aims to secure several thousand active customers in Germany over time.

Key takeaways for fintech startups

These points stand out for founders looking at similar expansion paths:

• Germany is a large but highly competitive market for cross-border financial services.
  
  
• EU regulatory coverage through an e-money licence enables rapid geographic expansion.
  
  
• Local hiring and physical presence in Berlin are part of the credibility strategy.
  
  
• Early adoption by fintech players such as Moss can accelerate trust.
  
  
• Speed of international payments and multi-currency capabilities are central to the value proposition.

If you are planning expansion into new markets or reviewing your payments and go-to-market approach, contact us. We can help you think through positioning, competition, and practical next steps.