Luno has completed the purchase of Kenyan cross‑border payments firm GTXN, bringing its licensed collection and payout capabilities into Luno’s cryptocurrency platform as the company expands its business‑payment services in emerging markets.

The deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, keeps GTXN co‑founder Dan Kleinbaum as chief executive of the unit, while Luno’s co‑founder and CEO Marcus Swanepoel remains at the helm of the broader group.

How the combined service will work

GTXN will operate as Luno’s cross‑border payments capability, offering businesses a single route to collect and pay out money between developed and emerging markets, with transactions running on Luno’s payment rails and settling against its liquidity pool.

The integration replaces the need for firms to stitch together multiple providers for collection, foreign‑exchange, settlement and payout, giving Luno greater control over the payment flow and the ability to settle against its own liquidity.

Potential benefits for businesses

For companies moving money between developed and emerging markets, the acquisition could reduce the number of intermediaries involved, simplifying the process to a single provider for collection and payout.

Whether the service delivers lower costs or faster settlement will depend on the specific corridors Luno can connect, the liquidity available in each market, and the regulatory permissions governing each transaction.

Regulatory backdrop and future steps

The acquisition coincides with South Africa’s draft Capital Flow Management Regulations and Crypto Asset Manual for Cross‑Border Activities, which aim to provide clearer oversight of international financial flows involving crypto assets.

Luno has expressed support for a regulatory framework that preserves access to regulated innovation, indicating that the company will align its expanded payment infrastructure with forthcoming rules.