Nium and Relay Process $500 Million in Payments
The fintech partnership facilitates cross-border transactions across 153 countries.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Financial Services
Live Poll
Do you trust fintech platforms that rely on third-party infrastructure for your business banking needs?
Nium and Relay have processed more than $500 million in cross-border payments during their first year of collaboration. This milestone was formally announced at the Money20/20 USA event in Las Vegas.
Why it matters
By embedding Nium's infrastructure into its banking platform, Relay offers global payment services without needing to secure money-transmission licenses in every jurisdiction. This allows Relay to focus on growth while leveraging Nium's established regulatory compliance network.
The partnership supports more than 500 Relay customers across 153 countries using Nium's infrastructure. Nium utilizes regulatory licenses in more than 40 nations and a payout network spanning over 190 markets.
The players
Nium
Nium is a global financial technology company with co-headquarters in San Francisco and Singapore that provides payment infrastructure and payout network services.
Relay
Relay is a U.S.-based digital banking platform that serves businesses by offering specialized financial services and payment capabilities.
Thread Bank
Thread Bank is a financial institution that provides the underlying banking services utilized by the Relay platform.
The details
Relay integrates Nium's licensed payment rails directly into its digital banking environment, which also utilizes Thread Bank for core services. The infrastructure provides the geographic reach necessary for Relay to serve its international customer base efficiently.
Timeline
October 19, 2026: The companies announced their $500 million milestone at Money20/20 USA.
Market Landscape
This collaboration highlights the growing trend of fintech platforms outsourcing core infrastructure to navigate the Bank Secrecy Act regulatory requirements across borders. It positions these firms to compete against traditional institutions by prioritizing speed and modular scalability.
Relay customers gain access to wider international payment capabilities without encountering the complexity of multiple bank setups. This streamlined process reduces the friction typically associated with cross-border business transactions for smaller enterprises.
The takeaway
Outsourcing complex regulatory infrastructure allows niche banking platforms to scale their geographic reach significantly faster than building internal capabilities. Businesses looking for global payout solutions should evaluate platforms that integrate these licensed payment rails to reduce their own compliance burden.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Financial Services.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Fintech Times.
Live Poll
Do you trust fintech platforms that rely on third-party infrastructure for your business banking needs?
