River, a U.S.-based technology company focused on global mobility and financial infrastructure, has acquired Wind, a decentralized payments and banking platform. The strategic acquisition marks a significant step in River’s ambition to develop a vertically integrated super app serving the world’s 300 million global citizens—individuals living and working outside their countries of origin.

The deal brings together founders from River, Lunchbox, and Pathao, combining their expertise in telecommunications, fintech, and super app ecosystems. Hussain M. Elius, founder of Wind and former CEO of Pathao, will now serve as River’s Chief Technology Officer, joining River CEO Ruhin Hossain and Chairman Nabeel Alamgir, also the founder of Lunchbox.

River’s super app is being built around three core verticals: telecommunications, payments, and banking, all integrated through an eSIM-powered platform. The company launched its eSIM service in 2024 and achieved US$10Mn in annual recurring revenue within a year. It currently serves over 30,000 recurring users and more than 100,000 one-time buyers globally.

With the integration of Wind, River will enable stablecoin-powered remittances, multicurrency wallets, and fee-efficient bill payments, without the need for a traditional bank account. River’s upcoming roadmap includes decentralized banking features designed to unlock credit, income, and savings access for underserved cross-border populations.

The acquisition comes as River scales rapidly and profitably, with no external funding to date. The platform is currently valued between US$100Mn and US$200Mn, and aims to grow its user base from six figures to several million by the end of the year. Enterprise partnerships, including onboarding over one million migrant workers, and licensing in key markets such as the EU and UAE, are core to River’s global expansion strategy.

“This is not just an acquisition—it’s an evolution,” said Elius. “We’re building the operating system for a borderless life. No more fragmented tools. No more gatekeepers.”

CEO Ruhin Hossain added, “We started by connecting people across borders. Now we’re helping them move money, build wealth, and live with dignity—on one seamless platform.”

The acquisition positions River to tap into a growing segment of global citizens and diaspora communities, who collectively sent over US$800Bn in remittances last year. With this move, River aims to offer an all-in-one financial and connectivity experience tailored to the needs of a borderless generation.