The world of digital payments can feel like a maze. Complex, intimidating, and out of reach for many businesses. Crypto, with its promise of freedom and opportunity, often comes wrapped in technical jargon and uncertainty, leaving companies hesitant to take the leap. This is where Bitpace steps in, like a trusted guide, simplifying the journey and making digital finance clear and accessible. With a heart for inclusion and a global vision, Bitpace empowers businesses to embrace digital payments with confidence, turning complexity into possibility and paving the way for a brighter financial future.

Since 2017, Bitpace has been transforming how businesses connect with digital payments. From its European offices, this fintech leader, inspired by CEO Anil Oncu’s experiences with financial instability in Turkey, makes digital payments as easy as a tap. Bitpace builds secure, user-friendly tools that help businesses, from bustling city shops to remote village startups, thrive in a digital world. Guided by trust, empathy, and diversity, the company dreams of a future where everyone, everywhere, can access fast and secure payments effortlessly.

At CIO Bulletin, we were deeply honored to engage in an insightful conversation with Meryem Habibi, Chief Revenue Officer of Bitpace, who shared powerful insights into how her company is revolutionising payments, making it simple, secure, and inclusive, while empowering businesses to scale new heights and connect with customers across the globe.

Interview Highlights

Bitpace was founded in 2017 with an idea to make cryptocurrency simple and inclusive, sparked by the challenges of financial instability. What’s the story behind that founding moment, and how does it still drive Bitpace’s mission to transform digital payments worldwide?

Our CEO, Anil Oncu, is no stranger to the harsh realities of financial instability. Growing up in Turkey, he watched how the unpredictability of the country's currency affected everyday people. This inspired him to create a crypto solution to increase financial inclusion, especially for those in emerging markets and underbanked regions with little or no access to financial services.

This led to the birth of Bitpace. Anil and the Bitpace team set out to build a platform that makes financial services available to all. He wanted to make this process as simple, secure, and seamless as possible, giving everyday people the confidence to use crypto in their daily transactions without getting bogged down in the technical details.

As Bitpace grew, so did Anil's vision. He saw that cryptocurrencies could not only provide stability but could also fuel growth and expansion for businesses. They could help businesses break down borders and reach customers they never could before.

Our mission is to make digital payments as easy as a tap on your screen. We understand that the world of digital payments can feel bewildering to some. That's why we empower businesses around the globe to navigate this landscape with confidence and ease, conveniently making digital payments accessible for all.

Bitpace offers a robust suite of services, from crypto payment gateways to white-label solutions. Could you briefly walk us through your offerings, highlight what sets you apart from competitors, and explain how these services benefit your clients?

What sets Bitpace apart is our agility and our ability to rapidly tailor payment solutions to the specific needs of different businesses and industries. Unlike one-size-fits-all providers, we work closely with clients to understand their operations, compliance requirements, customer base, and growth ambitions, and then adapt our infrastructure accordingly. With an agile in-house product and engineering team, we build the right solution quickly.

Bitpace provides seamless and customer-centric payment solutions for global businesses, including a user-friendly payment gateway, cross-border payments supported by stablecoins, an OTC Desk, and a robust white-label offering. This commitment to innovation and accessibility has driven outstanding growth, processing over $1 billion in monthly transaction volume and a 3X growth in our client base year-on-year.

One of our key achievements has been enabling institutions to tap into the digital asset economy without overhauling their existing infrastructure. Bitpace connects traditional banking with digital assets through innovative API solutions, transforming financial services delivery in today’s digital ecosystem. We have developed flexible APIs and plugins that integrate with leading e-commerce platforms, allowing clients to go live in days, not months.

From Tokyo’s fast-paced fintech to rural India’s budding crypto users—how does Bitpace balance hyper-local needs with a global platform?

Bitpace bridges hyper-local demands and global scalability by prioritising customisation and compliance in every market. The platform adapts to regional payment habits, whether through seamless e-commerce plugins, or easy API integrations.

Bitpace empowers merchants and users across vastly different environments by offering real-time settlements and multi-currency support. Regulatory adherence, paired with a universal UX and robust API architecture, ensures merchants can scale globally without sacrificing local relevance. Strategic partnerships and a decentralised operational structure further allow the company to effectively serve high-tech hubs and emerging markets.

In addition to meeting regional needs, Bitpace enables real growth across multiple sectors. E-commerce and marketplaces benefit from faster settlements and reduced FX costs, with sellers able to accept crypto and settle in fiat instantly. Travel businesses, often burdened by payment delays, can use Bitpace to receive global bookings or payments from their local travel agents in crypto with real-time conversion. For freelance platforms, we simplify international payouts, especially in underbanked regions. In every case, Bitpace facilitates payments and helps businesses expand faster, reduce costs, and improve the customer experience.

Transparency and trust are core values at Bitpace. How does the company maintain open communication and reliability with clients, particularly when navigating varying regulatory landscapes across countries?

Bitpace’s reputation for trust is built on proactive compliance, real-time support, and transparent pricing. Through a dedicated legal and compliance team, Bitpace ensures every transaction complies with local and international crypto laws. Its open API documentation allows clients to integrate and operate with complete confidence. By staying ahead of regulatory changes and maintaining an active dialogue with regulators, Bitpace helps clients navigate complexity while keeping operations smooth and compliant.

With a globally diverse team, how does Bitpace harness varied cultural perspectives to fuel innovation in the fintech sector, and how has this contributed to your status as a top global company in 2025?

Bitpace’s team spans Europe, Africa, and Asia, uniting perspectives from both mature and emerging financial ecosystems. This diversity enables product innovation that resonates with users worldwide, meeting various and extensive needs of different clients.

Cross-cultural collaboration drives creativity in product design, regulation navigation, and customer support. With inclusive leadership, Bitpace fosters an environment where ideas reflect real-world market needs. This global, inclusive mindset has been instrumental in earning recognition as a top global fintech player in 2025, winning multiple awards and setting industry standards in accessibility and innovation.

Your vision is to make cryptocurrency payments as accessible as cash or mobile wallets worldwide. What are the key milestones Bitpace aims to achieve in the next five years to bring this vision to life?

At Bitpace, our vision is to make crypto payments as accessible and seamless as using cash or mobile wallets, anywhere in the world. To bring this vision to life, we are pursuing a series of ambitious milestones over the next five years.

To support our global growth and ensure compliance in an evolving financial landscape, Bitpace has already acquired several new licenses and applied for additional ones. These efforts are strategically targeted to increase our operational scope and enable a broader range of crypto and fiat payment solutions across diverse jurisdictions.

We recognise that delivering frictionless cross-border payments requires deep integration with local financial ecosystems. That’s why we are actively building strategic partnerships with banks and local payment providers worldwide. These alliances enhance our ability to offer tailored, efficient, and regulation-compliant services that meet regional needs.

Bitpace currently operates in over 40 countries across five continents. By the end of 2025, we are targeting coverage in more than 60 countries. This expansion is not just about geography; it’s about creating inclusive financial access and enabling merchants and consumers alike to transact globally using crypto as effortlessly as they would with traditional methods.

We are also entering a new phase of growth by evolving from a crypto-based solution to a full-fledged embedded finance platform, offering a unified suite of crypto, payments, and banking services. This transition enables us to serve a broader range of use cases and support more seamless financial experiences within partner ecosystems.

Recognising AI's transformative potential, Bitpace has initiated the development of a comprehensive AI strategy. This initiative will underpin many aspects of our growth, from intelligent fraud detection and risk management to optimising customer experiences and operational scalability.

As a leader in the fintech industry and a Global Best Company of 2025, how does Bitpace measure success beyond transactions and merchant numbers? What legacy does Bitpace hope to leave in the world of digital payments?

Bitpace measures success by its impact on financial inclusion, regulatory innovation, and the trust built in decentralised payments. Beyond revenue, it tracks success through merchant satisfaction, settlement speed, and transaction reliability. Bitpace aims to democratise access to fast, borderless payments, especially for SMEs in underserved regions, advocating for responsible crypto adoption and championing transparent business practices. The end goal is a frictionless, inclusive digital economy where crypto becomes a mainstream medium of exchange, providing accessible, regulated, and trusted global payments, and setting the gold standard for the future of payment systems.

The Visionary Leader Upfront

Meryem Habibi, Bitpace’s CRO, is a key driver behind the company’s global growth, overseeing all revenue-generating functions, including sales, marketing, customer success and strategic partnerships. She sets the strategies that fuel business growth, exceed targets, and align departments with the company’s vision. With deep expertise in scaling fintech solutions, Meryem leads Bitpace’s market expansion, sales strategy, and client engagement. As a strong advocate for crypto adoption, she combines commercial acumen with a passion for inclusive financial systems.

Having worked in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Meryem understands the challenges businesses face with traditional payment systems. Motivated by the opportunity to merge finance with technology, she was inspired to shape the emerging crypto payments industry.

Her focus has shifted from innovation to developing secure, reliable, and user-friendly crypto solutions trusted by the public. Under her leadership, Bitpace has secured key partnerships, processed over $1 billion in monthly transaction volume, and achieved 3X year-on-year growth in its client base.

“Our mission is to build a borderless financial network that mirrors the convenience of cash and mobile wallets, offering instant settlements, minimal fees, and inclusive access to decentralised finance for businesses everywhere.”