MoonPay, a provider of digital asset infrastructure, has announced its acquisition of Meso Network, a startup focused on integrating traditional financial systems with blockchain technology.
The deal, revealed on September 15, 2025, underscores MoonPay’s aim to forge a comprehensive, regulated network that seamlessly blends fiat currencies, banking rails, and cryptocurrencies.
By incorporating Meso’s expertise, MoonPay aims to enhance its capabilities in cross-border transactions, positioning itself as a contender against established players like Circle and Visa in the evolving world of hybrid payments.
MoonPay, established in 2019, has long been recognized for its user-friendly fiat-to-crypto on-ramps, enabling individuals and businesses to enter the digital asset space through familiar payment methods such as credit cards and bank transfers.
The company now supports over 30 million customers and partners with nearly 500 enterprises, solidifying its role as a part of Web3 infrastructure.
However, as the crypto industry matures, the need for more sophisticated, compliant payment solutions has become evident.
This acquisition represents a pivotal step in MoonPay’s evolution from a simple gateway to a full-fledged global payments ecosystem.
Meso, founded in 2022 by fintech veterans Ali Aghareza and Ben Mills, specializes in creating self-custodial tools and APIs that bridge conventional finance with decentralized networks.
The startup’s technology emphasizes developer-friendly integrations, allowing seamless handling of electronic transfers, real-time payments, and stablecoin operations while prioritizing security and regulatory adherence.
Aghareza, previously a key engineer at Braintree (acquired by PayPal), led engineering efforts that scaled payment systems for high-volume platforms.
Mills, who headed product development at Venmo and drove innovations at Solana, brings deep insights into consumer-facing financial products.
Their combined experience from giants like PayPal and Venmo makes them ideal architects for MoonPay’s expanded vision.
Under the terms of the acquisition, Aghareza will assume the role of Chief Technology Officer at MoonPay, overseeing technical strategy and integration efforts.
Mills will step in as Senior Vice President of Product, guiding the development of MoonPay’s worldwide product lineup.
Soto-Wright highlighted the importance of a cohesive compliance structure, including Money Transmitter Licenses (MTLs), BitLicenses, and adherence to the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, to ensure trust and scalability.
This transaction builds on MoonPay’s aggressive acquisition strategy throughout 2025.
Earlier in the year, the company snapped up Helio, a Solana-centric payment processor valued at $175 million, which bolsters its blockchain-specific transaction processing.
In March, MoonPay integrated Iron, a provider of enterprise-grade APIs for merchants, Fintechs, and payment gateways, enhancing its backend for stablecoin and on-chain functionalities.
Reports also suggest the acquisition of Decent.xyz, a tool for on-chain payments, further diversifying MoonPay’s toolkit.
Collectively, these moves—now augmented by Meso—equip MoonPay with the essential building blocks for a singular, borderless payments infrastructure.
The broader implications of this deal are seemingly significant for the crypto sector.
As regulatory scrutiny intensifies and traditional finance increasingly intersects with digital assets, companies like MoonPay are racing to offer hybrid solutions that reduce friction for users and developers.
Meso’s focus on self-custody and API-driven connectivity will likely accelerate MoonPay’s developer platform, enabling embedding of crypto payments into apps, e-commerce sites, and financial services.
This could democratize access to global remittances, micropayments, and DeFi applications, particularly in underserved regions where traditional banking falls short.
While financial details of the Meso acquisition remain undisclosed, industry observers view it as a strategic move.
By expanding its global footprint, MoonPay not only aims to fortify its competitive edge but also contributes to the maturation of crypto payments as a viable alternative to legacy systems.
As Soto-Wright envisions, this network could potentially help redefine how value is exchanged worldwide, blending the speed of blockchains with the reliability of fiat rails.