CurrencyFair
Corporate brand
UnclaimedCurrencyFair is an Ireland-headquartered online foreign-exchange and international money-transfer platform focused on cross-border payments, including transfers for individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
CurrencyFair is an Irish financial-technology brand that provides online foreign-exchange and international money-transfer services. It was established in April 2009 by Brett Meyers, Jonathan Potter, Sean Barrett, and David Christian. The company developed around the idea that customers sending money internationally could obtain a more competitive exchange rate through a marketplace-style system rather than relying solely on conventional bank conversion. In its original model, users with opposing currency needs could be matched: one customer might hold one currency while requiring another, while another customer had the opposite requirement. This approach was designed to reduce the need for money to cross borders and to limit the conversion costs commonly associated with bank transfers. The matching service described in early accounts is no longer offered in that form. CurrencyFair was formally launched in December 2013 by Ireland's then Taoiseach, Enda Kenny. At launch, the company announced the creation of 30 new jobs, marking a transition from an early financial-technology venture into a more established payments business. In early 2014, CurrencyFair stated that its platform had become the first of its kind to exceed $1 billion, or approximately €916 million, in money-matching transfers. The company subsequently broadened its product focus beyond individual customers. A mobile application was introduced in September 2015, and the company announced at the 2016 Web Summit in Lisbon that it had raised €8 million in funding. The platform's reported transaction volume continued to grow. CurrencyFair announced that it had processed more than €5 billion in trades by August 2017 and more than €7 billion by July 2018. In April 2017, it revamped its platform to make the service more suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, reflecting a wider strategy of serving business customers as well as consumers. Its service supports international transfers in 20 global currencies and has been associated with high-value transfers and cross-border payments. International expansion became an important part of the company's development. CurrencyFair has maintained employees or working operations across Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Greece, Hong Kong, Poland, and Singapore, with established working sectors reported in Newcastle, New South Wales, Singapore, and Hong Kong. In August 2018, it announced a €20 million investment plan for the Asian market and the acquisition of Hong Kong-based Convoy Payments. In December 2019, it completed a partnership with Chinese online trade network Buy-World to launch a marketplace-payment product. The company also used community and cultural sponsorships to build visibility in markets where it operated, including sponsorship of the 2019 Asian Gaelic Games. CurrencyFair's positioning combines digital convenience, international reach, and exchange-rate efficiency. Its offering is relevant to people and organizations moving money across borders, including those making high-value transfers, paying overseas expenses, receiving foreign income, or settling international commercial transactions. The available reference material does not establish a current parent company, ultimate owner, stock-market listing, or detailed present-day product architecture. It does, however, identify CurrencyFair as an active international payments brand with an Ireland-based headquarters and a history of expansion through technology development, capital investment, acquisition, and partnerships.
History
CurrencyFair was founded in April 2009 by Brett Meyers, Jonathan Potter, Sean Barrett, and David Christian. The company emerged as an online alternative to conventional bank-based foreign exchange, initially using a marketplace concept intended to match customers with complementary currency needs. Under that model, funds could remain in their respective countries while customers obtained the currency they required, potentially avoiding some cross-border movement and bank conversion costs. This original money-matching service is no longer offered in the same form. The business received a formal public launch in December 2013, when Ireland's Taoiseach Enda Kenny introduced the company. CurrencyFair announced 30 jobs at the time, signaling the development of an Irish fintech employer with international ambitions. In early 2014, the company reported that it had exceeded $1 billion, equivalent to approximately €916 million, in money-matching transfers. This milestone helped establish the platform's reputation in the international-transfer sector. CurrencyFair expanded its customer access through technology. It launched a mobile application in September 2015 and announced €8 million in funding at the 2016 Web Summit in Lisbon. The company later reported cumulative traded volume of more than €5 billion by August 2017 and more than €7 billion by July 2018. In April 2017, it redesigned its platform to support small and medium-sized enterprises, broadening its focus beyond individual users and high-value personal transfers. Geographic expansion was another central element of its strategy. CurrencyFair has been associated with employees and operations in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Greece, Hong Kong, Poland, and Singapore. Working sectors were reported in Newcastle in the United Kingdom, New South Wales in Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. In August 2018, the company announced a €20 million investment program for the Asian market and acquired Convoy Payments, a Hong Kong-based business. The move strengthened its presence in an important region for cross-border commerce and remittances. CurrencyFair also developed commercial and community partnerships. In October 2019, it announced sponsorship of the Asian Gaelic Games, with a related event held at Croke Park. In December of the same year, it completed an agreement with Chinese online trade network Buy-World to launch a marketplace payment product. These activities illustrated the brand's effort to combine payment infrastructure with regional business networks and community visibility. The available reference material describes CurrencyFair as an active Ireland-headquartered provider of international money transfers in 20 global currencies. It does not provide reliable details about the current executive team, ultimate ownership, a parent group, public listing, or the precise status of every historical product. Accordingly, the brand's documented history is strongest on its founding, early money-matching model, funding, transaction-volume milestones, SME expansion, Asian investment, acquisition, and payment partnerships.
- 2019
Buy-World marketplace-payment partnership
[1]CurrencyFair completes a partnership with Buy-World to launch a marketplace payment product.
- 2018
Asian expansion and Convoy Payments acquisition
[1]CurrencyFair announces a €20 million Asian investment plan and acquires Hong Kong-based Convoy Payments.
- 2017
Platform expanded for SMEs
[1]A platform redesign enables CurrencyFair to target small and medium-sized enterprises more directly.
- 2016
Funding announced at Web Summit
[1]CurrencyFair announces €8 million in funding at the Web Summit in Lisbon.
- 2015
Mobile application launched
[1]CurrencyFair introduces a mobile app in September.
- 2014
One-billion-dollar transfer milestone
[1]The company reports that its money-matching transfers have exceeded $1 billion, approximately €916 million.
- 2013
Formal Irish launch
[1]CurrencyFair is formally launched by Taoiseach Enda Kenny in December, with 30 jobs announced.
- 2009
CurrencyFair is established
[1]Brett Meyers, Jonathan Potter, Sean Barrett, and David Christian establish CurrencyFair in April.
Products and positioning
A digital cross-border payments and foreign-exchange platform emphasizing competitive currency conversion, international transfers, and services for consumers and small and medium-sized businesses.
Cross-border payments · 2009
International money transfers
CurrencyFair's core service enables customers to exchange currencies and send funds internationally through an online platform. The service is associated with high-value transfers and supports 20 global currencies. It has served both individual customers and business users, although the exact current fees, limits, corridors, and regulatory terms are not specified in the available reference material.
Foreign-exchange service · 2009
Money-matching marketplace
CurrencyFair's original proposition used a matching mechanism for customers with opposite currency requirements. The intended effect was to keep money in its country of origin while satisfying the users' currency needs, reducing reliance on conventional bank conversion. Historical reporting credits this model with the platform's early growth, but the matching service is no longer offered in its original form.
Mobile payments · 2015
CurrencyFair mobile application
Launched in September 2015, the mobile application extended CurrencyFair's online transfer and currency-exchange experience to mobile users. The available sources do not specify the current supported operating systems or feature set.
Business payments · 2017
SME payment platform
CurrencyFair revamped its platform in April 2017 to make the service more accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises. The business-focused offering was intended to support companies making international payments, though the reference material does not provide a detailed list of treasury, invoicing, or account-management functions.
Marketplace payments · 2019
Marketplace payment product
CurrencyFair partnered with Chinese online trade network Buy-World to launch a marketplace payment product. The partnership connected CurrencyFair's cross-border payment capabilities with an online trade network; further details about the product's customers, corridors, and current availability are not established by the supplied sources.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Asian Gaelic Games sponsorship
Asia · Ireland
CurrencyFair sponsored the 2019 Asian Gaelic Games and held a launch event at Croke Park. The sponsorship connected the brand with the Irish diaspora, Gaelic sports, and its Asian operating markets.
Outcome. The available source confirms the sponsorship and launch event but does not document measurable commercial results.
Brand decisions
2019
Launch marketplace payment product with Buy-WorldProduct launchBackground
CurrencyFair sought to connect its cross-border payment infrastructure with an online trade network in China.
Action taken
The company completed a partnership agreement with Buy-World to launch a marketplace payment product.
Aftermath
The partnership expanded CurrencyFair's documented product scope, but no later performance information is provided.
2018
Acquire Convoy Payments and invest in AsiaM&ABackground
CurrencyFair identified Asia as a strategic growth market for international payments.
Action taken
The company announced a €20 million investment plan for Asia and acquired Hong Kong-based Convoy Payments.
Aftermath
The transaction and investment plan supported CurrencyFair's regional expansion, but the available material does not describe subsequent integration or financial performance.
Announced investment plan. €20 million planned investment (August 2018)
2017
Broaden the platform for SMEsStrategyBackground
CurrencyFair had established a consumer and high-value-transfer proposition but sought to serve business customers more directly.
Action taken
The company revamped its platform in April 2017 to enable small and medium-sized enterprises to use the service.
Aftermath
The move broadened CurrencyFair's stated target audience, although the available sources do not quantify its commercial effect.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Reported
CurrencyFair partners with Buy-World on global marketplace payments[2]
CurrencyFair signed a partnership with Chinese wholesale marketplace Buy-World to manage global payments for its trade network.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
CurrencyFair launches marketplace cross-border collections solution[2]
CurrencyFair launched a cross-border collections solution for marketplaces, designed for China's exporting SMEs.
Sources2 sources
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