More than just another industry event, this year’s Merchant Payments Ecosystem (MPE) in Berlin brought together 1600+ operators across payments, fintech, and commerce — from global platforms processing hundreds of billions in volume to infrastructure providers quietly rebuilding how money moves.
I kicked off the week at a side event hosted by Paynetics and Finmid, where discussions centered on embedded finance — how payments, lending, and accounts are becoming native features inside digital products. Over the next two days, I explored the conference together with Deniz Dyonmez from Pontica Solutions, which supports some of the world’s biggest fintechs with customer operations, compliance, and AI & software development — a layer that becomes critical once transactions start scaling.
Across those conversations, I had the opportunity to meet representatives of global leaders and fast-scaling payments companies worth well over a trillion euros in combined enterprise value.
Shopify
Shopify has grown into one of the largest commerce infrastructure companies globally, generating over €10B in annual revenue and powering merchants in more than 175 countries. Its platform integrates payments, checkout, and financial services into a single system, processing hundreds of billions in transaction volume annually. At this scale, payments are embedded directly into the core product.
Airbnb
Airbnb operates one of the largest global marketplaces, processing billions in payments across bookings worldwide. Within fintech, a key focus for them is to deepen and optimize its payments capabilities in key growth markets, particularly around cross-border transactions and payouts. Its scale puts it at the intersection of global commerce and fintech infrastructure.
Ingenico
Ingenico remains one of the most established players in global payment acceptance, supporting merchants with terminals, acquiring, and transaction infrastructure. The company expanded its capabilities through the acquisition of Bulgarian fintech Phos, a softPOS provider. Today, it is increasingly positioning beyond hardware toward integrated payment solutions.
JUSPAY
JUSPAY has built a highly engineering-driven payment infrastructure stack, with over 1,500 employees, the majority focused on development. Its technology powers checkout and orchestration for large global merchants handling high transaction volumes. Originally from India, the company is now expanding into Europe.
KAL
KAL built its position as a global provider of ATM software used by banks and financial institutions. The company is now extending into merchant payments and SmartPOS, targeting a broader role in retail environments. This shift reflects a move toward merchant-facing solutions.
Solidgate
Solidgate focuses on digital-first businesses, particularly SaaS and subscription companies operating globally. With over €40M in funding and a growing European footprint, it supports high-performance payment processing for scaling online businesses. The company reflects the continued rise of digital-native merchants.
Nomupay
Nomupay operates across acquiring, payouts, and cross-border transactions, particularly in markets where infrastructure is fragmented. Backed by over €110M in funding, it connects merchants to multiple regions through a single platform. Its focus is on simplifying international expansion.
Silverflow
Silverflow is rebuilding card processing infrastructure with direct connections to card networks, bypassing legacy systems. With more than €65M in funding, it enables greater flexibility and data visibility. The company represents a new generation of payment infrastructure providers.
Payrails
Payrails is building orchestration infrastructure that allows enterprises to manage multiple payment providers through a single layer. The company has raised over €45M and focuses on routing, optimization, and performance. Its positioning reflects increasing demand for control over payment flows.
Silverflow
Silverflow is rebuilding card processing infrastructure with direct connections to card networks, bypassing legacy systems. With more than €65M in funding, it enables greater flexibility and data visibility. The company represents a new generation of payment infrastructure providers.
Paynetics
Paynetics provides issuing, accounts, and payment infrastructure, enabling platforms to embed financial services directly into their products. With over €50M in annual revenue and clients such as Viber Pay, it operates at scale across Europe. Its model reflects how embedded finance is becoming a core monetization layer.
CoinsPaid
CoinsPaid enables businesses to accept and process cryptocurrency payments, handling billions in transaction volume annually. The company operates across multiple jurisdictions, bridging crypto and traditional payment flows. It is one of the largest crypto PSPs in Europe.
Finmid
Finmid provides infrastructure for platforms to offer lending products directly to their users. With ~€30M in funding, it enables marketplaces and SaaS companies to integrate credit into their workflows. Its model reflects the broader shift toward embedded financial services.
CorePay
CorePay is a payment service provider focused on merchant acquiring and payment processing, particularly for high-risk and hard-to-place businesses. It offers merchant accounts, its own payment gateway (NetValve), and tools for fraud prevention, chargeback management, and payment optimization. The company operates across the US, UK, and Europe, supporting high-volume e-commerce merchants with tailored payment setups.
Halo Dot
Halo Dot provides SoftPOS (Tap-to-Phone) technology that enables merchants to accept contactless payments directly on smartphones, without requiring physical terminals. Its software can be integrated via SDKs or deployed as white-label apps for banks, acquirers, and payment providers. The company is part of a broader shift toward software-based payment acceptance, reducing reliance on traditional POS hardware.
Finby
Finby provides cross-border payment and acquiring solutions for online businesses operating across Europe. The company enables merchants to access local payment methods and process transactions across multiple markets.
SocialScore
On the early-stage startup side, SocialScore is an AI-powered customer intelligence platform that builds real-time user profiles using over 300 data points from digital behavior and alternative data sources. It enables businesses to better understand, segment, and predict customer actions, supporting both marketing personalization and fraud detection.
Earlybird Venture Capital
Earlybird manages over €2B in assets and has backed multiple leading European technology companies, including UiPath, Peak, Snyk, and Aleph Alpha. The firm invests across fintech, enterprise software, and deep tech. Its presence reflects continued investor attention on infrastructure and AI-driven companies.
Deep Tech Momentum
Deep Tech Momentum is a curated gathering of founders, investors, and corporate buyers across sectors such as defense, AI, and robotics, taking place on May 20–21. The event has already facilitated over €500M in investments and triggered 500+ partnerships, bringing together 3,000+ attendees and 800+ corporate buyers.
Read more: CEE countries team up to create new regional legislation to boost research and innovation
Business of Payments
Founded by Geoffrey Barraclough, Business of Payments is a specialized media platform covering companies, trends, and developments in the global payments industry. It produces analysis and interviews for industry professionals. The platform reflects growing demand for dedicated payments intelligence.
C-Suite Podcast
C-Suite Podcast produces executive-level conversations, often recorded live at industry events like MPE. The format focuses on insights from operators and decision-makers. It represents the growing role of content in shaping the ecosystem.
Imagine Capital Group
Imagine Capital Group focuses on M&A advisory and strategic transactions across Europe, the US, and the Middle East. Through its network of buyers and investors, it supports companies in building acquisition value and executing deals. Its role reflects ongoing consolidation across fintech.
