Finance
Merge Expands Stablecoin Payment Offering with EMI and VASP License Activation
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Merge, a London-based fintech, has activated its Electronic Money Institution (EMI) licence and Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) registration. This marks a major milestone in its mission to modernise global payments.
Merge, a London-based fintech, has activated its Electronic Money Institution (EMI) licence and Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) registration. This marks a major milestone in its mission to modernise global payments.
The dual licences, granted by France’s ACPR and AMF, position Merge among the few financial infrastructure providers fully regulated to operate across both traditional and blockchain-based payment rails. This enables Merge to offer seamless payments in both local and digital currencies, combining the trust of regulated fiat operations with the speed and efficiency of stablecoin-based transfers.
These regulatory permissions allow Merge to support businesses in Europe and across the globe with a broad range of needs, from collecting and holding funds to executing cross-border payments and converting between fiat and digital currencies. The company’s infrastructure is designed to eliminate the delays, fees and lack of transparency that have long plagued international money movement.
Merge’s dual licensing is particularly valuable for companies navigating complex markets, where traditional banking and payment channels are slow, fragmented or unreliable. Whether a business is settling global invoices, repatriating revenue, or paying out to vendors in local currencies, Merge simplifies the entire process through one compliant and scalable platform.
This expansion builds on Merge’s existing platform, which already serves clients globally. Through a single API, Merge provides a comprehensive suite of services including multi-currency accounts, real-time payments, SWIFT connectivity, named sub-accounts and foreign exchange capabilities. These tools allow businesses to manage global treasury operations more efficiently and automate end-to-end payment flows.
“This is a major leap in making global money movement truly borderless,” said Kebbie Sebastian, Founder and CEO of Merge. “By merging stablecoins with real-time payment rails, we’re enabling businesses to move funds instantly and cost-effectively, without the friction of legacy systems. It’s a game-changer for companies that have long struggled with international transfers taking days and a lack of visibility throughout the process.”
“Stablecoins are transforming how money moves globally,” added Michael Burtscher, COO of Merge. “With both EMI and VASP licences in place, Merge provides the regulatory foundation needed for organisations to confidently adopt stablecoin-powered payment infrastructure at scale.”
This milestone reinforces Merge’s commitment to powering the future of cross-border payments for corporates, fintechs and digital platforms operating across both developed and emerging markets. With regulatory approval, institutional-grade infrastructure and a single unified API, Merge is positioned to become a key enabler of seamless, real-time global commerce.
About Merge
Merge is a London-based fintech building the next generation of global payment infrastructure. The company enables businesses to move money instantly across borders using stablecoins and real-time payment rails, all through a single API. Regulated as an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) and Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in France, Merge serves corporates, marketplaces, and fintechs across the world. Merge is backed by investors such as Coinbase and Octopus Ventures. For more information, visitwww.merge.money.
An Electronic Money Institution (EMI) is a financial entity that is authorized to issue electronic money and provide payment services, facilitating transactions without the need for traditional bank accounts.
A Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) is a business that provides services related to virtual assets, including exchanges, wallets, and other platforms that facilitate the transfer and management of cryptocurrencies.
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a stable value by pegging them to a reserve of assets, such as fiat currencies or commodities, reducing volatility in the crypto market.
A payment API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of protocols that allows developers to integrate payment processing capabilities into their applications, enabling seamless transactions.
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