MoonPay, a leading crypto payments infrastructure firm, has acquired U.S.-based payments startup Meso in a strategic move to broaden its global offerings and solidify its position in the evolving digital payments landscape.
In a statement released Monday, MoonPay said the acquisition aligns with its long-term vision of building a seamless international payments network that connects banks, card systems, stablecoins, and blockchains under a unified regulatory framework. The company highlighted compliance with both key U.S. licenses and Europe’s MiCA regime as central to its strategy.
“We’ve built trusted ramps that brought millions into crypto, now we’re building the global network that will move money across every form and in every market,” said Ivan Soto-Wright, co-founder and CEO of MoonPay.
As part of the deal, Meso’s co-founders Ali Aghareza and Ben Mills will join MoonPay as Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Product, respectively. Both bring extensive payments experience from industry leaders including Braintree, PayPal, and Venmo.
The Meso acquisition follows a string of recent deals by MoonPay as it continues to build out its payments infrastructure. Earlier this year, the company acquired Solana-based payments firm Helio, stablecoin infrastructure provider Iron, and onchain payment tool Decent.xyz, according to Bloomberg. Collectively, these acquisitions expand MoonPay’s ability to facilitate crypto purchases via bank transfers, cards, and mobile payment systems.
Despite its rapid growth, MoonPay has faced challenges. In June 2024, the firm laid off 10% of its workforce in an effort to address high costs and below-expected operating margins, The Block reported. Founded in 2019, the company was valued at $3.4 billion after raising $555 million in its 2021 Series A round.
Industry observers note that MoonPay’s aggressive acquisition strategy signals its determination to dominate the global payments space. With regulatory clarity improving and blockchain adoption accelerating, additional acquisitions across various blockchain networks may be on the horizon as the company works to integrate digital assets into the financial mainstream.
