Payoneer and Upwork are extending their long-running partnership, marking 15 years of collaboration supporting freelancers, remote workers, and cross-border digital payments worldwide.
Under the renewed agreement, Payoneer will continue serving as one of Upwork’s primary payout partners, providing wallet and “Direct to Local Bank” payment services for international users across Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.
The partnership also marks a new phase of collaboration focused on payment innovation, including exploring stablecoin-enabled payouts for freelancers in emerging markets.
Supporting the global freelance economy
The partnership reflects the continued growth of freelance and platform-based work across international markets, where cross-border payments remain critical for remote workers and independent professionals.
Backed by operations across 190 countries and territories, Payoneer continues to provide payout infrastructure designed to support global freelancers, SMBs, and digital marketplaces.
For the Philippines, where freelancing and remote work continue expanding, reliable international payouts remain an important part of enabling access to overseas opportunities.
Monique Avila, senior director of customer success for APAC at Payoneer, said the partnership reinforces support for Filipino freelancers participating in the global gig economy.
“The Philippines remains a key force in the global gig economy, and access to fast, reliable cross-border payments is critical for Filipino talent to thrive,” Avila said.
Exploring stablecoin-enabled payouts
As part of the renewed collaboration, Upwork will also join Payoneer as a design partner to explore stablecoin-enabled payouts.
The initiative aims to address increasing demand among freelancers seeking faster and more flexible access to funds, particularly in Latin America and other emerging markets where digital financial tools continue evolving rapidly.
The companies are also expected to collaborate on expanding access to Upwork’s global talent marketplace for Payoneer’s SMB ecosystem.
Cross-border infrastructure and digital commerce
Payoneer said its financial infrastructure is supported by a network of nearly 100 banks and payment service providers worldwide, helping facilitate secure and compliant cross-border transactions at scale.
The company continues investing in real-time payments, digital commerce infrastructure, and global money movement technologies designed to support increasingly international digital businesses.