Mastercard expands blockchain accelerator program with five new startups

• Mastercard expands Start Path program, adds 5 blockchain startups.
• The Start Path program showcases Mastercard’s leadership in fintech innovation
• Selected startups shall receive bespoke training and collaboration opportunities.

Mastercard, the global fintech giant, has announced the addition of five new startups to its Start Path Blockchain and Digital Assets program that aims to explore future use cases and scale new solutions by collaborating with startups worldwide.

The move underscores Mastercard’s commitment to fostering innovation in blockchain and digital payments.

Diverse cohort joins Mastercard’s accelerator program

The latest cohort joining Mastercard’s Start Path program represents a diverse range of innovative companies in the blockchain and digital assets space.

Among the newcomers are Kulipa, a crypto payment and card issuer; Parafin, a blockchain software firm; peaq, a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePin) provider; Triangle, a data platform; and Venly, a blockchain developer.

These startups were carefully selected based on their high potential to drive innovation in blockchain, digital assets, and Web3 technologies.

Mastercard continues to lead in Fintech and blockchain payments

Mastercard’s Start Path program offers selected startups a unique opportunity for collaboration, bespoke training, and access to Mastercard’s extensive network of customers and channels.

Over the course of a four-month program, participants will work closely with Mastercard experts to refine their solutions and explore differentiated use cases aimed at addressing real-world problems in the fintech and payments landscape.

Mastercard’s foray into blockchain and digital assets is part of its broader strategy to stay at the forefront of innovation in the fintech industry.

Through initiatives like the Start Path program, Mastercard has supported over 400 startups in 54 countries since its launch in 2014. By collaborating with industry experts and fintechs, Mastercard aims to drive the adoption of blockchain and digital payment solutions globally.

Recent partnerships and initiatives underscore Mastercard’s commitment to innovation in the fintech space.

The collaboration with Israeli fintech firm Kima to develop a “DeFi credit card” highlights Mastercard’s interest in marrying decentralized finance protocols with traditional banking services.

Additionally, the alliance formed with leading U.S. banking giants to test distributed ledger technology for banking settlements demonstrates Mastercard’s dedication to exploring new technologies to enhance financial infrastructure.