Airwallex: A New Era of Global Fintech Expansion
Global payments platform Airwallex has recently secured a significant $330 million in a Series G funding round, setting the stage for an aggressive expansion into the U.S. and European markets. This strategic move comes with a notable increase in the company’s valuation, now standing at an impressive $8 billion, a 30% rise since the conclusion of its previous Series F funding round in May 2021.
The San Francisco Pivot
In a clear indication of its strategic pivot towards the U.S., Airwallex has announced that it will be establishing its San Francisco office as a second global headquarters. The company has outlined plans to invest approximately $1 billion into its U.S. operations between 2026 and 2029. This investment is expected to bolster the company’s U.S. headcount from around 200 employees to more than 400 within the next 12 months. Furthermore, Airwallex is set to double its San Francisco office space to support its growing operations.
Commitment to European Expansion
Beyond the U.S., Airwallex is also focusing on expanding its presence in the U.K. and other key European markets. The company has committed to investing $590 million into its U.K. business over the next five years. Additional multi-million dollar investments are also planned for the Netherlands, France, and Germany starting in early 2026.
Global Vision
Established in Australia in 2015, Airwallex is currently headquartered in Singapore but identifies as a truly global company. Airwallex Vice President of Financial and Strategic Partnerships, Jason Gottlieb, emphasizes the company’s global vision, stating, “We solve problems for companies that are global or are going global, so we’re an extremely distributed company.”
Strong Investor Confidence
The fundraising round saw participation from prominent investors, including Addition, T. Rowe Price, Robinhood Ventures, and TIAA Ventures, reflecting strong investor confidence in Airwallex’s potential for global leadership in business banking. Lee Fixel, Addition founder, hailed Airwallex for “reshaping the global business banking landscape” with its “global financial infrastructure, software and AI capabilities.”
A Potential IPO on the Horizon?
Despite the massive fundraising, Gottlieb clarified that the company is not in a rush to go public. However, the establishment of the San Francisco office brings Airwallex closer to its U.S. partners and “paves the way for a potential IPO over whatever sort of timeframe makes sense.”
Expert Opinions
Industry experts believe that venture capital fundraising is a viable route for strong private fintechs like Airwallex. Jason Saltzman, an analyst at CB Insights, opined that “for a company like Airwallex with strong double-digit growth, staying private makes strategic sense.” He added that the fintech funding concentration in the U.S. gives companies like Airwallex the ability to explore global expansion options without exposure to volatile public markets.
Ben Boissevain, founder of Ascento Capital Invest, also noted that the funds raised by Airwallex offer a longer runway and relieves any immediate pressure to sell or go public, thereby strengthening its position for future valuation negotiations.
Growth and Regulatory Compliance
Airwallex attributes the interest in its recent funding round to its strong operating performance in 2025. The company reported $1 billion in annualized run rate revenue in November 2021, marking a 90% increase from the previous year. Airwallex holds 80 licenses and permits globally, including money transmitter licenses for 48 U.S. states, demonstrating its commitment to regulatory compliance.
Competing in the International Payments Space
In a move to strengthen its position in the international payments space, Airwallex acquired San Francisco-based billing fintech OpenPay in September 2021. This acquisition places Airwallex in direct competition with other global payments fintechs such as Stripe, setting the stage for an intriguing contest in the global fintech industry.
This recent expansion and investment by Airwallex herald a new era of competition and growth within the global fintech space. As the company continues to build its infrastructure and expand its reach, it remains to be seen how its strategic moves will impact the global payments landscape.
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