Scaling crypto innovation, from blockchain-based media to Web3 for emerging markets and beyond

Seven start-ups from around the world seek to champion innovation through the Mastercard Start Path programme

There is no single vision for the crypto economy other than that everyone who uses crypto should be able to do so easily and safely. For Mastercard, it’s about offering options in how people pay, use and buy crypto. Our role is to provide a best-in-class user experience and scale to offer this choice. NFTs, blockchain games and metaverse experiences can transform how consumers shop and communicate, but we need to collaborate and bring together technology, banking, fintech and crypto to unlock this potential.

A shared vision for innovation and collaboration

We have always had a collaborative approach to co-innovation with fintechs. We build with an API and developer-first mindset to make it easy for fintech creators to co-innovate and unleash the enormous utility and scale of our network to rapidly power new and relevant solutions. With more than 90 million receiving locations worldwide, our experience in securing multiple payment rails instills confidence and enables crypto companies to operate safely in the market. We provide an express lane for Web3 and crypto startups to grow and an ecosystem for them to thrive.

Through Mastercard Start Path’s global startup engagement program, we work with digital asset, blockchain and cryptocurrency-based companies that share a vision to make blockchain technology and digital assets more accessible. These companies are making strides to bridge the gap between Web2 and Web3 and meet consumers where they are today. We welcome a new group of startups to facilitate access to digital assets, build community for creators, and empower people to innovate for the future through Web3 technologies. These companies will join the more than 350 companies from 40 countries that have participated in Start Path since 2014.

Strengthening the future of crypto

The following startups join Start Path to harness innovation in a way that drives economies and empowers people:

• Digital Treasures Center (DTC) [Singapore] enables merchants to pay, receive and transfer funds including cards, cash and crypto, as well as process major currencies using DTC Pay.
• Faceted [Abu Dhabi] is a digital asset exchange in emerging markets, pioneering Web3 use cases for the next billion to improve the way people own, connect and share digital assets.
• Loot Bolt[U.S.] empowers organizations to build, grow and scale passionate communities by leveraging a Web3 powered social payment system.
• Square [U.S.] uses privacy-preserving and Sybil-resistant technology to bring identity and compliance to public blockchains while reducing reputational risk.
• Stable® [Colombia] offers global transfers, peer-to-peer payments and card usage based on a technology that stabilizes all global currencies, including stablecoins, safely and easily.

• TBTM (Take Back the Mic) Studios[Dubai] building the world’s first blockchain-based media fintech, turning culture into currency by rewarding fans and compensating creators for building communities around great content.
• At the top [U.S.] uses blockchain to create a clutter-free place for brands to control their customer relationships and for customers to receive fun, personalized rewards.

Scaling for impact

The newest Start Path cohort will engage in growth-essential opportunities, including technology collaboration, mentorship, access to channels and customers, and the opportunity to accelerate their digital asset innovations and expand into new markets.

Fintechs play an important role in digital transformation by bringing new ideas, customization and greater choice to consumers and businesses. We believe collaboration across the crypto ecosystem is critical to delivering the right solutions at the right time. From our experience in innovating payments and building a global network, we believe it is more likely that we will see a hybrid economy that combines the benefits of Web3 technology with existing financial infrastructure. And why shouldn’t everyone have the opportunity to join the Web3 tour?

Blockchain, digital asset and crypto companies are invited to apply for the Mastercard Start Path Crypto program here.

Learn more about how Mastercard is collaborating in the digital currency space to transform commerce, financial services and more here.