- MoonPay acquires Helio for $175M to enhance crypto payment solutions for merchants.
- Helio supports over 6,000 merchants, handling $1.5B in transactions with seamless integrations.
- MoonPay secures EU MiCA approval, solidifying its role in the global crypto economy.
MoonPay, a leading fiat-to-crypto on-ramp provider, has made a bold step forward by acquiring Helio, a Solana-based blockchain payment processor, in a $175 million deal. Helio is renowned for its crypto checkout platform, which enables businesses to accept payments in digital assets like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and USD Coin (USDC).
According to the official announcement, this acquisition will integrate Helio’s technology into MoonPay’s infrastructure, improving the efficiency and affordability of crypto payments for merchants and marketplaces. The timing couldn’t be more interesting—this deal was finalized just days before the U.S. President-elect’s inauguration.
What This Means for Crypto Payments and Merchants
Helio has a proven track record in supporting e-commerce, digital goods, and subscription services. With over 6,000 merchants onboard and a transaction history exceeding $1.5 billion, Helio is already well-integrated with platforms like Discord, Shopify, and WooCommerce.
Helio’s co-founder and CEO, Stijn Paumen, shared his enthusiasm in a press release:
“Helio was founded to make crypto payments accessible, and in three years, we’ve reached millions of customers through our merchants.”
Post-acquisition, MoonPay aims to use Helio’s decentralized payment solutions to replace the “slow, costly” traditional merchant payment systems with faster and more affordable options. This deal will not only expand MoonPay’s service offerings but also create a more comprehensive platform for developers, merchants, and consumers.
MoonPay Secures EU Approval Amidst Strategic Expansion
This acquisition comes shortly after MoonPay received regulatory approval under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) bill. The approval, granted by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (DAFM), allows MoonPay to operate as a licensed crypto business in the Netherlands.
Ivan Soto-Wright, MoonPay’s co-founder and CEO, called the approval a “pivotal step in solidifying the crypto industry’s role in the global economy.”
Building Toward a Stronger Future
MoonPay has been steadily expanding its services, introducing tools like MoonPay Balance in November 2024 to allow users to store fiat balances and interact with decentralized finance systems. The Helio acquisition further strengthens MoonPay’s position, building upon its existing user base of 20 million users across 160 countries.
With this strategic move, MoonPay is poised to redefine crypto payment solutions, empowering merchants and users alike with faster and more innovative payment technologies.
