Blockchain News

MoonPay Acquires Helio for $175M to Revolutionize Crypto Payments

The acquisition integrates Helio’s platform serving 6,000+ merchants and $1.5B in processed crypto transactions into MoonPay’s ecosystem.

Strategic move follows MoonPay’s recent EU regulatory approval and launch of MoonPay Balance for enhanced DeFi interactions.

Helio’s integration with major platforms like Shopify and Discord expands MoonPay’s merchant payment solutions capabilities.

MoonPay, a leading fiat-to-crypto on-ramp provider, has made its first acquisition for the year, buying Helio, a blockchain-based payment processor built on the Solana network to enhance digital assets payments.

According to an on Monday, the $175 million deal aims to strengthen MoonPay’s payment infrastructure and deliver faster, more efficient crypto transaction solutions for merchants and marketplaces worldwide.

Expanding Infrastructure with Helio’s Technology

MoonPay has been in the business of facilitating crypto payments since its launch in 2019. Now, with the acquisition of Helio, the company aims to strengthen its footprint within the crypto economy.

Helio is widely recognized for its advanced crypto checkout platform, enabling businesses to accept payments in digital assets, including Bitcoin , Ethereum , Solana , and USD Coin .

The acquisition of Helio allows MoonPay to integrate cutting-edge blockchain payment technology, enhancing its offerings for e-commerce, subscription services, and digital goods. Helio already supports over 6,000 merchants and has processed more than $1.5 billion in transactions.

Helio’s platform, which integrates with popular tools like Discord, Shopify, and WooCommerce, will now empower MoonPay to provide an all-in-one solution for merchants, developers, and consumers seeking reliable crypto payment options.

According to Stijn Paumen, Helio’s co-founder and CEO, the acquisition furthers Helio’s mission of making crypto payments accessible.

MoonPay’s acquisition of Helio aligns with the company’s broader strategy to expand its footprint in the global crypto ecosystem. This follows a key milestone in December 2024, when MoonPay secured a license to operate as a regulated crypto business in the Netherlands under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework.

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.”

The acquisition follows MoonPay’s November 2024 debut of MoonPay Balance, a payment tool designed to let users store and spend fiat balances while seamlessly interacting with decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms.

In December 2024, MoonPay secured an operational license in the Netherlands, paving the way for the company to offer crypto payment services in the region. The license was granted under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework, further solidifying MoonPay’s regulatory compliance in Europe.

In 2023, MoonPay made its first acquisition by purchasing Web3 creative studio Nightshift, a strategic move to strengthen its position in the blockchain and Web3 space.

Additionally, in June 2022, MoonPay launched Hypermint, a groundbreaking platform enabling brands to mint up to 100 million digital assets simultaneously, demonstrating the company’s innovative approach to digital asset creation and scalability.