Thunes brings Venezuela into its global payments network

Financial platform Thunes added Venezuela to its global Direct Global Network on October 22, 2026, to process real-time international money transfers, according to El Nacional. The integration allows foreign banks and payment gateways to credit funds immediately to Venezuelan financial institutions through the Crédito Inmediato Interbancario, and also enables deposits into digital wallets and cash-out counters.

The service aims to serve the flow of remittances that sustains 35% of households in the country. That volume exceeds $6 billion a year and equals about 7% of gross domestic product, according to data published by the outlet. Some 50% of these funds come from the United States, Europe and other countries in the region, a flow that has historically faced restrictions because of the regulatory controls imposed on correspondent banking.

To get around these operational barriers, the company said it will use its SmartX Treasury System and the Fortress Compliance Platform to ensure the traceability of transactions. The move also responds to the growth of freelancers who provide digital services from within the country and who, given the limits of traditional banking, had relied on informal operators charging high fees.

Meanwhile, the cost of living continues to weigh constantly on household incomes. According to data from Descifrado, the basic food basket for a family of five rose to $761.35 in September, an increase of 0.79% from the $755.36 reported in August. These expenses coincide with an official exchange rate set by the Central Bank of Venezuela at 884.75 bolívares per dollar for the same date.