Airwallex Bets Big on Europe with $233 Million Investment
Australian fintech firm Airwallex has announced a significant investment of approximately 200 million euros (US$233.64 million) into its Netherlands operations over the next five years. This substantial commitment signals a major expansion into the European market, representing a strategic shift away from the company’s traditional focus on the Asia-Pacific region.
The Melbourne-based company, founded in 2015, intends to grow its Amsterdam-based team by 60%, increasing headcount to around 70 full-time employees by the close of 2026. Airwallex provides a comprehensive global payments platform, facilitating international money transfers, multi-currency account management, and online transaction processing for businesses worldwide.
Airwallex’s growth trajectory has been impressive, highlighted by a $13 million Series A funding round in 2017, led by tech giant Tencent. More recently, the company secured $330 million in a Series G round, propelling its valuation to over $6 billion and exceeding $1 billion in annual recurring revenue. This latest investment underscores the company’s financial strength and ambition.
This European expansion marks a new chapter for Airwallex, as the company prioritizes growth in both Europe and the Americas following a decade of concentrated efforts in Australia and Asia-Pacific. Obtaining a license in the Netherlands in May 2021 was a crucial step, granting Airwallex access to the broader European Economic Area.
Airwallex currently serves a diverse and substantial customer base of over 150,000 businesses as of October 2025, including prominent names like Shein, Bolt, TikTok, and Canva. The company now finds itself competing with established European payment processors such as Adyen and Mollie (both based in the Netherlands), and the Dutch digital bank Bunq, in a rapidly evolving market.
