The world of online payments is becoming increasingly complex, and businesses are looking for ways to streamline their operations and offer more choices to customers. A new partnership between Spreedly and Paysafe, announced Monday, aims to do just that. The collaboration integrates Paysafe’s payment processing capabilities into Spreedly’s global payments orchestration platform, offering merchants a more flexible and efficient way to manage transactions across Europe, North America, and other international markets.
This isn’t simply about adding another payment option. Spreedly’s platform already connects to over 140 payment gateways and more than 40 unique payment methods. By adding the Paysafe Gateway, merchants gain access to 30 years of Paysafe’s experience in areas like foreign exchange and serving industries such as iGaming and financial services. The integration allows for seamless online card payments, completed in seconds, according to the companies.
Expanding Options for Online Merchants
At the heart of this partnership is the concept of “open payments,” a philosophy Spreedly champions. “At Spreedly, we believe open payments drive better outcomes for merchants,” said Michael Rokos, partner strategy director at Spreedly, in a press release. “Bringing Paysafe onto our Open Payments Platform expands optionality for our customers and reinforces our mission to provide a flexible, future-ready infrastructure for global commerce.”
The initial phase of the partnership focuses on card payment processing, but the long-term vision includes integrating Paysafe’s alternative payment methods, such as the Skrill and Neteller digital wallets, and PaysafeCard, a prepaid option popular with consumers who prefer to use cash online. This broader integration aims to cater to a wider range of customer preferences and payment habits.
A Growing Trend: Payments Orchestration
The rise of payments orchestration platforms like Spreedly reflects a growing necessitate for businesses to navigate the increasingly fragmented payments landscape. Merchants often struggle to manage relationships with multiple payment gateways, each with its own rules, regulations, and technical requirements. Payments orchestration simplifies this process by providing a single point of integration, allowing merchants to route transactions to the optimal gateway based on factors like cost, risk, and performance.
According to Finovate, the move will help modernize payment stacks with a modular approach. Combining Paysafe’s tools with Spreedly’s open payments architecture allows merchants to adapt to changing market conditions without completely rebuilding their infrastructure.
Digital Wallets as the “Organizing Layer” of Commerce
The partnership arrives as digital wallets are gaining prominence in the payments ecosystem. Paysafe’s Chief Revenue Officer, Rob Gatto, highlighted the importance of this trend, stating, “With the Paysafe Gateway, a trusted solution for card payments among forex and financial trading brokers and a wide range of other industries, we appear forward to strengthening Spreedly’s Open Payment Platform and streamlining payments for its merchant users and their customers.”
Bob Legters, chief product officer at Paysafe, recently discussed the evolving role of digital wallets, describing them as becoming the “organizing layer of commerce.” He noted that wallets are increasingly encompassing not just payments, but also identity verification, loyalty rewards, and brand engagement. Legters pointed to the concept of “shift mix” – the proportion of payment dollars flowing through wallet rails versus traditional systems – as a key metric for gauging the success of this trend. He emphasized that the goal isn’t to eliminate traditional payment methods, but rather to rebalance the ecosystem.
“Almost no payment methodology that’s been invented has ever been retired,” Legters said, adding that in a payments landscape of abundance, wallets can be particularly valuable for both consumers and merchants.
What’s Next
The partnership between Spreedly and Paysafe is already live, with Paysafe processing card payments for several online trading brokers and financial services companies. The companies expect to onboard additional merchants before the conclude of 2026. This initial rollout will be followed by the integration of Paysafe’s alternative payment methods, further expanding the options available to merchants and consumers. The collaboration represents a significant step towards a more flexible, efficient, and customer-centric payments ecosystem.
As the payments landscape continues to evolve, partnerships like this one will be crucial for businesses looking to stay ahead of the curve. The focus on open payments and interoperability promises to unlock new opportunities for innovation and growth.
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