Airwallex has acquired South Korean payment processor Paynuri, securing key licences to operate in the country.
Financial terms of the transaction remain undisclosed.
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The deal gives Airwallex control of Paynuri’s South Korean regulatory permissions, including payment gateway and prepaid electronic payment instrument licences, along with a Foreign Exchange Business registration.
Through these licences, Airwallex aims to support Korean businesses seeking to expand overseas and to enable overseas companies to transact more easily in South Korea.
Airwallex plans to introduce global business accounts and payment acquiring services as its first product offerings in South Korea.
Additional launches are scheduled in 2026.
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By GlobalDataThe acquisition follows Airwallex’s Series G funding round, which helped the company raise $330m at an $8bn valuation, around 30% higher than its previous raise.
The round was led by Addition, with additional participation from T Rowe Price, Lingotto, Activant, TIAA Ventures, and Robinhood Ventures.
The company said funding from international investors is being directed towards building licensed financial infrastructure in key markets, including South Korea.
Airwallex also intends to scale up its on-the-ground presence in the country.
It expects to recruit across various roles in 2026, with a target of having around 20 staff in South Korea by the end of this year.
Airwallex APAC general manager Arnold Chan said: “This acquisition marks a pivotal milestone for Airwallex as we expand the global reach of our financial platform. Korea’s fast-growing ecommerce, creative and entertainment sectors present immense opportunities for Korean businesses on the global stage. Our goal is to support these businesses with a more efficient solution to expand beyond borders.”
The move extends Airwallex’s footprint in Asia, building on its presence in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.
In the Asia-Pacific region, the company reported an 85% year-on-year growth in revenue and a 71% year-on-year rise in transaction volumes in 2025.
On a global basis, Airwallex recorded $1.2bn in annualised revenue and $266bn in annualised transaction volume as of December 2025.
