Merchant Payments Ecosystem Announces Winners of the MPE Awards 2026
27.3.2026 12:00:00 CET | ACCESS Newswire | Press release
Industry leaders, innovators and emerging companies were recognized in Berlin for excellence across the merchant payments ecosystem.
BERLIN, GERMANY / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2026 / Merchant Payments Ecosystem (MPE) today announced the winners of the MPE Awards 2026, recognizing the companies and individuals driving innovation, leadership and measurable impact across the merchant payments value chain. Presented during the MPE Awards Gala in Berlin on March 18, the annual awards celebrated excellence across payment acceptance, orchestration, embedded finance, open banking, fraud and compliance, identity, settlement, merchant-led innovation and more.
With 177 entries submitted this year, the MPE Awards 2026 highlighted the scale, competitiveness and diversity of innovation shaping the future of merchant payments. The central theme of this year's awards was "Transformation through Trust & Resilience."
"The MPE Awards 2026 winners demonstrate that the future of merchant payments will be shaped not just by innovation, but by trust, resilience and measurable value for merchants. We are proud to recognize the companies and leaders who are helping move the industry forward and setting new benchmarks across the ecosystem," said Andy Ivanis, Partner at MPE 2026.
The winners of the MPE Awards 2026 are:
Merchant Payment Acceptance of the Year - Checkout.com
Most Innovative Payment Solution - Prommt
Best Cross-Border Payment Solution - Thunes
Best Payment Orchestration Solution - APEXX Global
Best Embedded Finance / BaaS Solution - finmid
Best Platform / Marketplace Provider - Shopify
Best Open Banking / A2A Payments Solution - Token.io
Best Use of AI & Data for Commerce & Customer Empowerment - Shopify
Best Risk, Fraud & Compliance Solution - Elavon
Best Identity, Onboarding & Authentication Solution - ID-Pal
Best Local or Alternative Payment Method - Bumper Iberia
Best International Settlement & Liquidity Solution - Fireblocks
MPE Influencer of the Year - Christian Pirkner
Best Startup / Scaleup Innovation Award - Unetix
Chairman's Award: Merchant Payments Initiative of the Year - Air Europa & Hands In
This year's program also included several Highly Commended recognitions, underlining the quality and competitiveness of the 2026 awards. Together, the winners reflect a market focused on performance, trust, adaptability and long-term merchant value.
The MPE Awards continue to spotlight the breadth of transformation taking place across the payments landscape, from merchant acceptance and fraud prevention to AI, open banking, embedded finance and international settlement. By recognizing excellence across the ecosystem, MPE highlights the organizations and leaders setting new benchmarks for the industry.
To see the complete list of the MPE Awards winners and winners' interviews, please visit:
www.merchantpaymentsecosystem.com/awards
About Merchant Payments Ecosystem (MPE)
Merchant Payments Ecosystem (MPE) is Europe's largest merchant payments conference, exhibition, and community focused on card acquiring, alternative payments, merchant services, POS, mobile, and online payment acceptance.
MPE connects merchants, acquirers, PSPs, payment processors, schemes, regulators, gateways, POS HW/SW solution providers, innovative fintech, and all other parties active in the payment acceptance ecosystem.
www.merchantpaymentsecosystem.com
About the MPE Awards 2026
The MPE Awards honor companies and individuals driving innovation in merchant payments acceptance. Established in 2010, they remain the only European awards recognizing excellence in card acquiring, processing, PSP services, and emerging payment technologies.
The MPE Awards statuette, exclusively crafted in a limited series each year, is designed this year by renowned Slovak sculptor Pavol Dubina. The organic bronze and gold-plated sculpture reflects the "guiding hand" theme.
To see a complete list of the MPE Awards winners and winners' interviews, please visit:
www.merchantpaymentsecosystem.com/awards
Media Contact
Natalia Ivanis
natalia.ivanis@merchantpaymentsecosystem.com
+421 917 802 770
Follow MPE and MPE Awards on social media:
Facebook | LinkedIn
#mpecosystem #MPEAwards #MPE2026
SOURCE: Merchant Payments Ecosystem
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Merchant Payments Ecosystem
Subscribe to releases from ACCESS Newswire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from ACCESS Newswire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from ACCESS Newswire
RE Royalties Announces Strategic Review to Evaluate Path for Long-Term Value Creation27.3.2026 11:00:00 CET | Press release
All amounts in CAD dollars unless otherwise stated. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2026 / RE Royalties Ltd. (TSXV:RE)(OTCQX:RROYF)(FSE:Y2V) ("RE Royalties" or the "Company") today announced that its Board of Directors (the "Board") has initiated a formal review of strategic alternatives (the "Strategic Review") to identify opportunities to maximize value for shareholders. As part of this process, the Board will evaluate a broad range of potential alternatives, including, but not limited to, a sale of the Company, strategic or co-investment partnerships, or capital structure optimizations through equity or debt financings. The Strategic Review represents a natural evolution for RE Royalties as the Company enters its 11th year of operations and seeks to position itself for future growth. The Strategic Review follows a formal recommendation from management. A Special Committee of the Board ("Special Committee") has been established to lead the process and oversee the evaluati
Clean Air Metals Receives Provincial Funding and Provides Update on the Thunder Bay North Project26.3.2026 22:00:00 CET | Press release
THUNDER BAY, ON / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2026 / Clean Air Metals Inc. ("Clean Air Metals" or the "Company") (TSXV:AIR)(FRA:CKU)(OTCQB:CLRMF) is pleased to provide an update on its 100%-owned Thunder Bay North ("TBN") Critical Minerals Project in Northwestern Ontario. Company Financing update The Company has been approved for up to $200,000 in government funding as part of the Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP) that will be used to advance work in the 2.5 km long Escape down-plunge target, where it recently intersected 53m of resource-grade mineralization in the initial exploration hole (Figure 1 and October 20, 2025 release). "Ontario is leading the charge to secure the minerals that will power our economy and strengthen our sovereignty," said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines. "Through OJEP, we're backing companies like Clean Air Metals Inc. to advance promising projects here at home-unlocking resources, creating jobs, and building a more self-reliant and secure
LHH 2026 C-Suite Research: Executive Turnover Falls Sharply as AI Accountability and Decision-Making Gaps Define Leadership Agenda26.3.2026 17:05:00 CET | Press release
High-turnover leadership teams drop from 43% to 19% year-over-year; AI identified as the #1 executive skill gap. NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2026 / LHH, the integrated professional talent solutions provider and global business unit of the Adecco Group, released its 2026 View from the C-Suite report, examining executive priorities, leadership skill gaps, and organizational performance internationally. The report highlights a notable shift in the executive landscape: while turnover is falling, the expectations and pressures on leaders are intensifying across technology, decision-making, and talent strategy. Brief The annual View from the C-Suite report finds that executive turnover is declining significantly. Leaders are navigating high external pressures, including economic uncertainty, market volatility, inflation, rising costs, and heightened data security risks. Internal priorities are increasingly focused on talent retention, team effectiveness, and employee well
Multi-Billion-Dollar Sports Brand U.S. Polo Assn. Launches Global Polo Shirt Campaign: An Icon Born from the Game26.3.2026 12:00:00 CET | Press release
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2026 / U.S. Polo Assn., the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA) founded in 1890, today announced the launch of its Global Polo Shirt Campaign, An Icon Born from the Game. The global campaign is a powerful tribute to the iconic polo shirt's authentic sports origins and its evolution into one of the world's most enduring style essentials.1. U.S. Polo Assn. Global Brand Ambassador, 6-goal American professional polo player Nico Escobar takes in the game atop his equine partner, wearing polo whites and a classic navy U.S. Polo Assn. polo shirt, An Icon Born from the Game 2. U.S. Polo Assn. models in polo shirts at the Spring-Summer 2026 Global Collection Photoshoot in Charleston, South Carolina 3. ‘The Polo Shirt: An Icon Born From the Game' campaign imagery featuring U.S. Polo Assn. models The polo shirt's beginning was born on the polo fields, shaped by motion, competition, and the spirit of the game for wh
U.S. Mined and Refined Metals as well as Rare Earth Elements to Be Tokenized in Historic American Strategic Minerals and Datavault AI Deal26.3.2026 11:07:00 CET | Press release
Partnership Sets the Stage for the Launch of an International Elements Exchange Powered by Patented AI Platform Datavault AI and American Strategic Minerals debut minting of up to $2 billion USD of refined Antimony-backed stable coins will be followed by the strategic development of future projects in silver, gold, and other American refined Rare Earth Elements the companies have targeted for expansion PHILADELPHIA, PA AND LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2026 / Datavault AI Inc. ("Datavault AI" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:DVLT), a provider of data monetization, credentialing, digital engagement, and real-world asset ("RWA") tokenization technologies, and American Strategic Minerals Inc. ("ASMI"), today announced a strategic partnership to develop and monetize one of ASMI's resource extraction projects in Arizona through a $78.2 million digital tokenization initiative, with Datavault AI entitled to earn up to a 20% equity interest in ASMI upon successful completion of performa
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom