Airwallex, an Australian payment firm, has announced a significant investment of around 200 million euros ($233.64 million) over the next five years in its Netherlands operations. This move marks a major expansion into Europe as the company shifts its focus from its Asia-Pacific base.
The fintech company, founded in Melbourne in 2015, plans to increase its Amsterdam headcount by 60% to around 70 full-time employees by the end of 2026. Airwallex operates a global payments platform that enables businesses to send and receive international payments, hold multi-currency accounts, and process online transactions.
Airwallex has been making waves in the financial technology industry, securing a $13 million Series A round led by Chinese internet giant Tencent in 2017. The company recently raised $330 million in a Series G round, bringing its valuation to over $6 billion and surpassing $1 billion in annual recurring revenue.
The decision to invest in the Netherlands comes as Airwallex shifts its focus to growth in Europe and the Americas, after a decade of concentrating on Australia and the Asia-Pacific markets. The company obtained a license in the Netherlands in May 2021, granting it access to the European Economic Area.
As of October 2025, Airwallex served more than 150,000 customers, including well-known brands such as Shein, Bolt, TikTok, and Canva. The company now competes with established European payment processors, including Netherlands-based Adyen and Mollie, as well as Dutch digital bank Bunq.
This investment signifies Airwallex’s commitment to expanding its presence in Europe and further solidifying its position in the global payments industry. With a growing customer base and a strong financial backing, Airwallex is set to make a significant impact in the European market in the coming years.
(Reporting by Leo Marchandon in Gdansk Editing by Louise Heavens)
