San Francisco/Singapore: Global cross-border payments company Nium has acquired Cypher, a crypto-native non-custodial wallet and card issuing platform, in a strategic move to expand its capabilities across digital assets and stablecoin-powered payments.
Cypher, backed by Y Combinator and Coinbase Ventures, brings expertise in blockchain infrastructure, crypto-native financial products, and digital wallet technology, helping Nium strengthen its position in the rapidly evolving digital payments ecosystem.
Expanding Beyond Traditional Cross-Border Payments
Nium said the acquisition will help bridge traditional fiat payment systems with digital asset infrastructure, enabling businesses to move funds more efficiently across global markets.
The deal follows Nium’s recent initiatives in stablecoin-powered payment solutions, including the launch of stablecoin-backed issuing products and the expansion of its cross-border payment network to support funding and settlement using stablecoins.
According to the company, growing demand from Web3 businesses and traditional fintech companies entering the digital asset space has accelerated the need for scalable blockchain-based payment infrastructure.
Cypher Brings Crypto-Native Expertise
Through the acquisition, Nium gains Cypher’s technical expertise in developing and scaling products for crypto-native users while navigating the operational complexities of blockchain ecosystems.
The integration is expected to enhance Nium’s ability to build secure, scalable infrastructure supporting digital wallets, stablecoins, and next-generation payment applications.
Building the Future of Agentic Payments
Commenting on the acquisition, Prajit Nanu, CEO of Nium, said:
“Money should move as fast as and with as much precision as data regardless of origin or destination.”
He added:
“Today payouts get stuck in correspondent banking flows and trillions sit idle in nostro accounts for days. The acquisition gives Nium the muscle to accelerate building the critical infrastructure to drive this change, including trust and value exchange layers needed for agentic payments.”
Strengthening Global Payment Infrastructure
Nium currently operates one of the world’s largest real-time cross-border payment networks, supporting transactions across:
- 190+ countries
- 100 currencies
- Real-time settlement in more than 100 markets
The company is also a principal card issuer across major payment networks, including:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Discover
- UATP
Nium issues more than 41 million card tokens annually and holds regulatory licences in over 40 countries, enabling businesses to deliver global payment services with greater speed and compliance.
Growing Momentum for Stablecoins in Global Finance
The acquisition reflects a broader industry shift as financial institutions and fintech companies increasingly adopt stablecoins and blockchain infrastructure to improve the speed, cost, and transparency of cross-border payments.
As demand grows for programmable payments and AI-enabled financial services, companies are investing heavily in infrastructure that connects traditional banking with digital assets.
By integrating Cypher’s crypto-native capabilities into its global payments platform, Nium aims to position itself at the forefront of the next generation of international payment infrastructure.
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Ruchi Kumar is the associate editor at Entrepreneur News Network and TVW News India, where she leads editorial strategy, brand storytelling, and startup ecosystem coverage. With a strong focus on innovation, business, and marketing insights, he curates impactful narratives that spotlight India’s evolving entrepreneurial landscape. She has written extensively on fintech, AI and emerging startups.