TABLE OF CONTENTS
- What just happened?
- Who is Thunes?
- What does this mean for Second Life users?
- Do I need to do anything?
- Will this change affect my inworld transactions or L$ purchases?
- Is my USD balance still safe?
- Will payout options or countries supported change?
- Are there any changes to payout fees?
- Will I still see the Tilia name?
- What about privacy and compliance?
- Who do I contact for billing support?
- Why is Linden Lab making this change?
- How will I know if something changes in the future?
- Still have questions?
What just happened?
Tilia, the payment platform used for Second Life, has been acquired by Thunes, a global leader in cross-border payments. The acquisition, which required regulatory approval, is now complete.
Who is Thunes?
Thunes is a licensed global payments provider that facilitates fast, secure, and compliant cross-border financial transactions in over 130 countries. Thunes will now operate the Tilia platform that powers transactions for Second Life.
What does this mean for Second Life users?
We do not anticipate any significant changes to your existing Second Life experience. You can continue to use all current payment, payout, and account features as before. Your USD balances, payout preferences, and billing tools remain fully intact and operational.
Do I need to do anything?
No action is required but you may be asked to review and accept a revised Terms of Service. All your account settings and balances carry over seamlessly. This transition is designed to be invisible to users unless explicitly communicated otherwise.
Will this change affect my inworld transactions or L$ purchases?
No. Second Life continues to operate normally. All inworld transactions and L$ purchases remain unaffected.
Is my USD balance still safe?
Yes. Your USD balance is secure and will continue to be managed under strict regulatory and compliance standards. The transition to Thunes does not impact the safety or availability of your funds.
Will payout options or countries supported change?
No changes are happening at this time. Existing payout options (like PayPal, bank deposits, etc.) continue to be supported. As Thunes expands its network, additional payout methods or country support may become available in the future.
Are there any changes to payout fees?
No. There are no changes to existing payout fees as part of this transition. If any new payout methods are introduced later, fees will be clearly communicated and based on service-specific costs.
Will I still see the Tilia name?
For now, yes. However, over time you may start seeing the Tilia name replaced with Thunes in some places (like payment interfaces, in support articles or in emails). This branding change will be phased and will not affect functionality.
What about privacy and compliance?
Thunes is a regulated financial entity, just like Tilia. All privacy protections, KYC (Know Your Customer), tax form requirements, and compliance standards remain unchanged and fully enforced.
Who do I contact for billing support?
You can continue to use Second Life’s Support Portal for any billing-related issues or questions. The same Linden Lab teams are here to help.
Why is Linden Lab making this change?
This transition allows Linden Lab to focus more deeply on virtual world innovation and product development, while Thunes—a specialized financial provider—takes over the operation and expansion of the payment platform. Additionally, more than 50% of Second Life's active Residents reside outside of the US; as a global payments provider, Thunes has a great deal to offer in potentially expanding transaction options for Second Life's Residents.
How will I know if something changes in the future?
We’ll always communicate any required user actions or changes clearly via blog posts, official emails, and the Support Portal. If something requires your attention, we’ll let you know. To be sure that you don't miss any announcements or important information, it's a good idea to make sure that the email address associated with your account is up to date and verified. For more information on how to verify your email address, please visit our Knowledgebase article Verifying your email address.
Still have questions?
Please visit the Billing section of our Support Portal if you have questions.