Australian payments company Airwallex, which received investment from Tencent, announced on January 5, 2026, that it would invest close to €200 million in the Netherlands market over the course of five years.
The move would be a crucial component of the company’s expansion plan in Europe.
Airwallex, a fintech company founded in 2015, delivers cross-border payment solutions, multi-currency accounts, foreign exchange solutions, and payment processing services for international businesses.
The investment also identifies the Netherlands as a hub for carrying out global fintech operations.
Why the Netherlands Matters
The reason why the Netherlands was picked is that it serves as a regulatory and operational gateway into the European Economic Area.
The Dutch have a strong payment infrastructure, a competent workforce, and Amsterdam as a fintech hub.
Airwallex was licensed as an institution for electronic money by the Dutch Central Bank in May 2021.
This enables it to offer services within the EU. Being a licensed institution is a huge factor supporting localized products such as Dutch IBAN accounts and settlement services.
In August 2025, the firm also secured a MiFID license from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets to launch its Yield product in the Netherlands.
Recruiting Plans & Local Investment
The investment also contains a 60% increase in employees on its side in the Netherlands, taking the total employees there to approximately 70 by end-2026.
The new jobs will encompass engineering, compliance, product, and sales functions.
The funds will enhance the technology infrastructure and compliance, which comes against a tougher regulatory background for financial institutions in Europe.
Supported by Robust Growth and Capital
This comes shortly after a period of swift expansion.
Airwallex previously raised $330 million in a Series G funding round on December 8, 2025, at a valuation of $8 billion.
This round was supported by investors Tencent.
The company broke the $1 billion annual recurring revenue mark in October 2025.
It currently serves over 150,000 customers across the globe, including Shein, Bolt, TikTok, and Canva.
Competition and Market Dynamics
In the Netherlands, some of its rivals include Adyen, Mollie, and Bunq. Airwallex’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region as well as in the US makes the company unique compared to its rivals in the market.
The pledge comes at a time when fintech investment maintains its select nature.
Future Directions
With a €200 million plan, the Netherlands will be at the forefront of Airwallex’s strategy in Europe.
With its expansion of operations and services, this hub will help to drive Airwallex’s expansion as a leading worldwide payments company.
