Currenxie wins direct SEPA access for euro payments

Currenxie has been granted Single Euro Payments Area Participant status by the European Payments Council, giving the fintech direct access to the SEPA payments network.

The status allows Currenxie to connect directly to core European payment rails rather than relying on partner banks. This gives it direct operational control over its euro payment corridors and enables it to issue native euro International Bank Account Numbers.

Most financial institutions and fintechs access the European payments network through indirect arrangements. That structure can add steps to processing, affect delivery times, and leave providers dependent on third-party banking partners for parts of the payments chain.

Direct participation means Currenxie can offer SEPA Instant clearing in under 10 seconds under EPC rules. It also includes embedded Verification of Payee, which is expected to strengthen payment security and reliability.

The development marks a notable step in Currenxie's European expansion. Only a small number of fintech platforms have completed the EPC adherence process and secured SEPA Participant status.

European expansion

The payments company launched its multi-country, multi-currency business account across the European Economic Area in the second quarter of the year, after first introducing it in the UK earlier in the year. It serves more than 15,000 clients across 100 countries, focusing on businesses managing cross-border payments and treasury operations.

For small and medium-sized enterprises, direct access to SEPA can simplify euro transactions. Instead of routing payments through intermediary arrangements, businesses on the platform can access euro IBANs directly and use the network for account-to-account transfers.

That matters in a market where payment speed and certainty can affect working capital management. Faster settlement can improve visibility over incoming and outgoing funds, particularly for companies operating across multiple jurisdictions.

"Direct SEPA access enables Currenxie to offer our own native euro IBANs and enhance our end-to-end control of the payments process, upholding our exceptional service standards to our clients. As one of the few fintech platforms with direct access, we can remove a typical intermediary layer, which can introduce unnecessary barriers and disrupt payment flow," said Sam Coyne, Chief Executive Officer - Europe at Currenxie.

Currenxie has been building scale in cross-border payments as it broadens its product set for internationally active businesses. Annual payment volume now exceeds USD $6 billion, with the total value of funds processed rising 23% year on year in 2025.

Since launch, the company has transferred more than USD $18 billion for merchants across Europe, Asia, and North America. Those figures indicate it is moving beyond early-stage growth and handling volumes that place operational reliability under greater scrutiny.

Competitive pressure

The European payments market has become increasingly competitive as fintechs try to reduce dependence on traditional banking intermediaries. Direct access to domestic and regional payment rails is often seen as a way to tighten control over processing, reduce friction, and improve consistency for end users.

For providers serving internationally trading businesses, the ability to combine account services, foreign exchange, and payment execution on one platform has become an important differentiator. Direct network participation can support that model by giving firms more oversight of settlement and customer account infrastructure.

Currenxie framed the EPC decision as a sign that it had met the technical and regulatory standards required for direct participation. In practice, that places the company in a narrower group of financial institutions able to connect to the scheme on their own account.

Coyne linked the move to the company's wider growth plans. "The granting of SEPA Participant status by the European Payments Council is a proud milestone that reflects Currenxie's technical and regulatory maturity as we enter new markets and continue to develop our client offering to support SMEs operating globally to achieve their growth goals."