Airtm partners with BVNK to expand wallet-based payments

By Divya Shah

Why it matters: The partnership highlights growing convergence between stablecoins, digital wallets and traditional payment networks, helping expand financial access and cross-border commerce in emerging markets.

Airtm partnered with BVNK, a Mastercard company, to bring wallet-based payment capabilities to users across emerging markets.

The partnership is designed to connect Airtm’s digital wallet ecosystem with BVNK’s payment infrastructure, enabling broader access to payments, funding and money movement services.

Under the agreement, Airtm users will be able to spend funds held in their wallets at retailers that use BVNK’s payment network. Users will also gain additional options to fund their wallets and receive money, expanding access to digital financial services.

The announcement coincided with the launch of Airtm Connect, a new service that enables digital asset companies, including BVNK, to connect their wallets and payment services to Airtm’s user network.

Airtm operates a last-mile financial network across emerging markets, while BVNK provides stablecoin payment infrastructure for businesses. The partnership will run on the Stellar blockchain, which BVNK recently integrated into its platform.

“We’re not just adding another integration. We’re building the complete on-ramp-to-commerce flow that emerging market users have needed for years,” said Rubén Galindo Steckel, CEO at Airtm.

Following BVNK’s acquisition by Mastercard, Airtm will also gain access to the Mastercard Global Money Platform, which supports both fiat and stablecoin accounts, payments and money transfer capabilities.

“Airtm Connect shows what’s possible when FinTech platforms stop thinking about wallets as silos and start treating them as distribution channels for real-world commerce,” said Kimberly Mescal Julien, Global Head of Partnerships at BVNK.

Airtm said the arrangement allows it to maintain direct customer relationships while avoiding the need to connect with multiple service providers. BVNK will serve as an additional infrastructure partner, helping Airtm offer more funding routes and payment options across a wider geographic footprint.

The rollout of the new services is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.