Fintech, payments platforms, embedded finance, stablecoins, crypto brokers and related M&A/earnings

Fintech, Payments & Crypto Deals

The fintech, payments, and crypto sectors continue to accelerate through mid-2027, driven by deepening institutional adoption, strategic mergers and acquisitions, and rapid innovation in embedded finance and stablecoin infrastructure. As crypto rails become increasingly mainstream and payments platforms consolidate, the competitive landscape is shifting toward integrated ecosystems that combine blockchain-enabled settlement, AI-driven fraud prevention, and seamless embedded financial services.

Sector Snapshot: Fintech and Crypto Rails Gaining Momentum

The first half of 2027 has witnessed fintech and payments firms doubling down on blockchain-based rails and embedded finance expansion. Institutional players are embracing stablecoins and crypto settlement networks to enhance cross-border payments efficiency, transparency, and speed. Meanwhile, embedded finance solutions are proliferating, enabling non-financial platforms to embed payments and liquidity management natively.

This acceleration is underscored by:

Heightened M&A activity aiming to build scale and capability in emerging markets and digital ecosystems.
Investor enthusiasm reflected in soaring valuations for blockchain-enabled fintech platforms.
Regulatory milestones that provide clearer frameworks for stablecoin issuance and crypto custody.

Earnings and Operational Updates: Growth Amid Pressure and Volatility

Key fintech and crypto firms reported mixed but telling results in Q1 and Q2 2027:

Remitly extended its strong cross-border growth trajectory with Q1 2027 revenue increasing 31% year-over-year to $420 million, driven by expanded corridors in Asia and Latin America. Adjusted EBITDA margins improved to 18%, reflecting operational leverage.
Global-e posted another record quarter, with Q1 revenue surging 35% YoY to $215 million, fueled by growing demand for seamless international e-commerce payments and newly launched localized payment methods in the Middle East.
Klarna continued to grapple with profitability challenges despite 15% revenue growth in Q1 2027. Its stock declined 8% post-earnings, as investor concerns linger over intense competition in neobanking and BNPL amid tightening credit conditions.
Block, Inc. announced an additional 20% workforce reduction following its large-scale cuts in 2025, totaling over 6,000 layoffs since late 2025. CEO Jack Dorsey emphasized a renewed focus on “profitable, scalable core products” including Cash App and crypto services, signaling a pivot away from experimental ventures.
Crypto mining remains volatile: Hut 8 Mining narrowed its Q1 loss to $120 million as compute revenue rose but energy costs remained elevated. TeraWulf reported a surprise Q1 profit of $8 million, a turnaround attributed to improved operational efficiency and strategic power sourcing, though revenue missed analyst expectations.

Strategic M&A and Partnership Advances

M&A activity continues to reshape fintech’s global footprint and technological capabilities:

Visa’s acquisition of Prisma Medios de Pago and Newpay in Argentina closed successfully in early 2027, with Visa integrating AI-driven fraud prevention and embedded finance modules to accelerate Latin America’s digital payments adoption.
Experian’s purchase of AtData finalized in Q1 2027, enhancing Experian’s identity verification and email intelligence capabilities crucial for fraud detection in digital lending and payments.
Evertec’s acquisition of TOTVS’s Brazilian fintech unit expanded its reach across Latin America’s burgeoning SME payments market, positioning Evertec as a regional leader in integrated payments and lending solutions.
Capitolis’s acquisition of Gates Management’s U.S. secured financing business broadened its capital marketplace offerings, strengthening fintech-driven liquidity solutions for institutional clients.
UK fintech investor Augmentum Fintech’s £185.7 million acquisition by Verdane-controlled BidCo marks ongoing consolidation and strategic repositioning within European fintech investment platforms.
Robinhood’s $1 billion closed-end fund IPO launched to provide retail investors access to pre-IPO private companies, diversifying Robinhood’s brokerage revenue streams amid increased competition.
PayPal shares surged 9% following renewed reports that Stripe is exploring a potential acquisition of PayPal, sparking industry speculation of a landmark fintech consolidation that could combine Stripe’s developer-centric API platform with PayPal’s extensive consumer network.
PayPal remains a takeover target amid a 46% stock decline over the past 12 months, with activist investors pressing for accelerated innovation in crypto and embedded finance services.

Stablecoin and Embedded Finance Infrastructure Expansion

Embedded finance and regulated stablecoin ecosystems have seen significant progress, driven by regulatory approvals, platform integrations, and new market entrants:

Stripe Bridge, Stripe’s stablecoin platform, received final approval from the OCC to operate as a federally regulated stablecoin issuer. This milestone enhances Stripe’s ability to offer instant fiat-to-crypto interoperability and cross-border settlement services, setting a new industry benchmark.
Payoneer filed for a U.S. national trust bank charter, signaling its intent to become a regulated stablecoin issuer and custodian. This move underscores growing institutional demand for compliant crypto payment rails.
Stablecore’s integration into the Jack Henry Fintech Network now connects over 1,800 U.S. banks to stablecoin liquidity pools, enabling banks to tap digital asset payment rails and offer real-time settlement capabilities.
Paysafe expanded its embedded finance partnership with Jaris, enabling U.S. SMEs to access instant pay and working capital solutions directly through their payment processing platforms.
New entrants such as Fluz have launched embedded finance platforms aimed at SaaS providers, facilitating easy integration of payment capabilities into software products.
The OPP and SUNMI partnership is scaling embedded payments monetization across European SaaS platforms, democratizing access to payment revenue streams for software developers.
Mastercard’s collaboration with Ericsson to develop cross-border financial tools highlights ongoing innovation to modernize international money transfers using fintech and telecom synergies.
Payabli’s partnership with Huntington Bank focuses on delivering frictionless payment experiences within digital banking, reflecting banks’ strategic move beyond traditional payment infrastructures.

Market Valuations and Investor Sentiment

Investor confidence remains robust for blockchain-enabled fintech innovators despite broader macroeconomic uncertainties:

Stripe’s valuation surged to $165 billion after a recent tender offer increased employee and shareholder participation, reflecting optimism about its blockchain and embedded finance initiatives.
Coinbase Global (COIN) has seen a 22% share price increase year-to-date, bolstered by growing institutional crypto adoption and expansion into custody and stablecoin services.
Semiconductor companies supporting fintech infrastructure continue to attract attention:
- Lattice Semiconductor’s one-year price target rose 33% to $120, driven by demand for AI-powered chips used in fraud detection and payment processing.
- Comparative evaluations of Cerdo (CRDO) versus giants like Texas Instruments (TXN) underscore investor efforts to identify niche leaders in AI chipsets critical for next-gen fintech platforms.

Outlook: Institutionalization and Regulatory Navigation as Key Growth Drivers

As 2027 progresses, the fintech and crypto sectors are converging around a shared vision of integrated, blockchain-enabled payment ecosystems supported by embedded finance. Critical factors shaping the near-term future include:

Regulatory clarity and approvals, such as OCC trust charters for stablecoin issuers, which lower barriers for institutional participation and accelerate product innovation.
Strategic M&A and partnerships that expand geographic reach, technological capabilities, and product suites, exemplified by Visa’s Latin American expansions and the potential PayPal-Stripe tie-up.
Technological innovation in AI fraud prevention, blockchain settlement, and embedded finance platforms that enable seamless, real-time payments and liquidity management.
Investor appetite for fintech infrastructure and crypto rails, reflected in strong valuations and renewed interest in crypto custodians and chipmakers.

Fintech firms that successfully balance innovation, scale, and regulatory compliance — while embedding crypto rails and stablecoin infrastructures into mainstream financial services — will be well positioned to lead the next wave of global payments transformation. The evolving landscape promises more inclusive, efficient, and transparent financial experiences for consumers and enterprises worldwide.

Sources (43)