Denmark has been ranked the world’s leading country for cross-border payment interoperability in the 2026 Thunes Cross-Border Payments Interoperability Index. Singapore placed second, while Norway ranked third, Fintech News reports.
The report evaluates 50 markets based on factors including digital infrastructure, financial inclusion, cross-border connectivity and regulatory progress.
Denmark achieved the highest overall score of 8.8. According to the report, the country benefits from advanced payment infrastructure, strong integration with European payment systems and close cooperation across the Nordic region.
The report highlights initiatives such as Vipps MobilePay, which enables near-instant payments across Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Singapore ranked second globally with a score of 8.3. The city-state was recognized for its work connecting payment systems across Asia through its PayNow platform.
Through links with countries including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and India, users can transfer funds directly using mobile numbers or QR codes.
While Europe dominates the ranking thanks to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), the report notes that payment efficiency often declines when transactions move beyond the European Union.
The index was compiled by Thunes using survey data and international benchmarks to assess how effectively money can move across borders in different parts of the world.
