Mastercard Emphasizes Global Payments Expertise
Mastercard highlighted its experience constructing a global payments network, emphasizing its capability to connect regulated money, bank deposits, stablecoins, and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) with startups. The program’s objective is to drive the development of new solutions that improve digital commerce user experiences.
Mastercard’s Start Path program will use blockchain technology’s unique capabilities by collaborating with industry experts and fintech startups to identify and develop use cases that address pressing societal needs.
Through the Start Path program, selected startups will gain access to special training, mentorship, and Mastercard’s network of customers and channels over four months.
Since the program was founded in 2014, Mastercard has supported more than 400 startups from 54 countries,” the press release noted.
Among the selected startups is Kulipa, a French-based company that facilitates crypto payment card issuance for digital wallets. Another chosen participant is UK-based Parfin, which focuses on developing enterprise-grade software products to assist financial institutions in adopting blockchain.
Singapore’s Peaq, recognized for providing permissionless and borderless digital infrastructure for real-world applications, was among the startups chosen for the program.
Triangle, a U.S.-based startup that prioritizes sustainability through a data platform integrating climate data with finance, and Venly, a Belgium-based startup simplifying blockchain integration for developers and businesses, were also selected to participate.
Commenting on the program, Kujipa founder Axel Cateland expressed optimism about unlocking mass crypto adoption and promoting wider financial inclusion through convenient global stablecoin payments.