MoonPay buys crypto payments startup Meso to expand global reach

MoonPay, a crypto payments infrastructure firm, has acquired payments startup Meso in a strategic move to expand its offerings globally.

In a statement released Monday, MoonPay said that the deal supports its goal of building an international payments network linking banks, card systems, stablecoins, and blockchains under a unified regulatory framework covering key U.S. licenses and Europe's MiCA regime.

"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.

With the acquisition, Meso co-founders Ali Aghareza and Ben Mills joins MoonPay as Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Product, bringing experience from Braintree, PayPal, and Venmo.

MoonPay did not disclose the acquisition's size or terms. The Block has reached out to the company for further comment.

MoonPay's acquisition of Meso comes after it acquired Solana-based payments firm Helio and stablecoin infrastructure firm Iron earlier this year. Bloomberg reported that MoonPay also acquired onchain payment tool Decent.xyz this year. The acquisitions aim to expand MoonPay's crypto payment services to support crypto purchases via cards, bank transfers, and mobile options.

In June 2024, MoonPay laid off 10% of its staff due to its high cost structure and below-expected operating margins, The Block reported. Founded in 2019, MoonPay was valued at $3.4 billion when it raised $555 million in its Series A financing round in 2021.