Global business may be moving faster and more digitally than ever, but cross-border payments, treasury management, and foreign exchange still lag behind. Airwallex was founded to fix that problem and has become one of the players redefining how money moves around the world.
The company has just raised $330 million in a Series G funding round led by Addition, with participation from T. Rowe Price Associates, Activant, Lingotto, Robinhood Ventures, and TIAA Ventures.
The round values Airwallex at $8 billion. More than $1 billion is being allocated to drive growth in the United States, as Airwallex names San Francisco its second global headquarters alongside Melbourne.
Founders, vision, and origins
Airwallex was founded in Melbourne in 2015 by Xijing Dai, Jack Zhang, Lucy Liu, and Max Li, who had seen firsthand how small online businesses struggled with slow, expensive international transactions.
That frustration became Airwallex’s blueprint: to build a platform that’s as fast, borderless, and intelligent as the companies it serves. From its early days helping businesses move money across borders, Airwallex has grown into a full-scale financial infrastructure provider offering payments, treasury, billing, and spend management in more than 200 markets.
Airwallex’s infrastructure bypasses traditional correspondent banking networks. Instead of relying on multiple intermediaries, it connects directly to local payment systems worldwide, enabling instant, low-cost transactions with built-in compliance and multi-currency support. Regulatory licenses in more than 80 jurisdictions give the company rare global reach and control, creating a moat that few rivals can match.
The company is also developing AI-driven agents designed to handle complicated financial tasks autonomously, from sorting expenses and checking policies to managing multi-step treasury operations.
Unlike Wise, Revolut, Stripe, and Payoneer, Airwallex differentiates itself through its depth of infrastructure and enterprise focus, providing APIs and embedded tools that integrate directly into the financial operations of global businesses.
What’s next?
With its dual headquarters now spanning Melbourne and San Francisco, Airwallex is making a clear statement: the U.S. is central to its next stage of growth. The company expects to double its American workforce to more than 400 employees within a year and to increase global headcount by 50% by 2026.
The fresh funds will accelerate product development, AI hiring, and partnerships as Airwallex strengthens its position in North America, Europe, and fast-growing emerging markets.
