Crypto payments platform Mesh has announced a new integration with Apple Pay, enabling its merchant partners to process cryptocurrency transactions using this popular mobile payment solution.
This development was showcased during a live presentation by Co-Founder and CEO Bam Azizi at the Token2049 conference, marking the first public demonstration of the feature, which is expected to go live in the second quarter of this year.
According to an official press release, this integration aims to simplify the payment process for merchants by removing the necessity for them to establish their own cryptocurrency infrastructure.
Mesh Bridges Crypto and Stablecoins for Payments
Consumers will have the option to pay using well-known cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), or Solana (SOL), while merchants will receive payment settlements in stablecoins like USDC, USDT, or PYUSD, enabled by Mesh’s unique SmartFunding technology.
Azizi emphasized that this innovation addresses a significant hurdle in the quest for broader cryptocurrency adoption: the gap between the flexibility customers enjoy and the stability that merchants require.
“As soon as crypto payments are as seamless as fiat payments, nothing is left to stop the mass migration of global commerce onto blockchain rails,” Azizi stated. “Mesh is solving the user experience and convenience issues.”
This integration harnesses Apple Pay’s NFC technology, facilitating cryptocurrency payments in brick-and-mortar stores with the same ease as traditional card transactions.
Consumers can utilize Apple Pay for checkout, authenticate their identity using Face ID, and finalize purchases within seconds, irrespective of whether they are shopping online or in person.
This announcement follows Mesh’s successful $82 million Series B funding round, led by Paradigm and supported by prominent investors such as Consensys and Yolo Investments.
With over 300 integrations already in place, including partnerships with Coinbase, Binance, MetaMask, and Phantom, Mesh continues to solidify its role as a critical player in the cryptocurrency payments landscape.
Payments Companies Push into Crypto
Mesh’s collaboration with Apple Pay comes amid a broader trend of payment companies venturing deeper into the realm of digital assets.
Recently, global payment giant Stripe announced its plans to create a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin tailored for businesses operating outside the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
This declaration followed Stripe’s receipt of regulatory approval to acquire Bridge, a stablecoin payment network aimed at challenging traditional banking systems and transfers based on SWIFT.
Furthermore, last month, former Twitter CEO and Bitcoin proponent Jack Dorsey advocated for the inclusion of Bitcoin in Signal Messenger for peer-to-peer transactions.
Dorsey’s sentiments were echoed by David Marcus, the former president of PayPal and CEO of Lightspark, who remarked that “all non-transactional apps should connect to Bitcoin,” reflecting a growing view among Bitcoin supporters to redefine BTC as a viable payment medium rather than merely a store of value.
In a similar vein, Singapore-based payment company Triple-A revealed its plans to incorporate PayPal’s stablecoin into its suite of supported tokens for customer transactions.
Moreover, major companies like PayPal have entered this growing sector, launching their own stablecoins and offering incentives to attract holders.
