Emerging Payment Trends and the Future of Acquiring in 2025 and Beyond | CatalystConversations with Paynetics

Welcome to the first interview in our renewed #CatalystConversations series, where we bring together industry leaders to discuss emerging trends, share insights, and explore the future of payments. Today, we are joined by Konstantin Djelebov, Chief Product Officer at Paynetics, one of our trusted acquiring partners.

Paynetics, a leading electronic money institution operating across the EU and UK, has been at the forefront of delivering innovative payment solutions. With their extensive expertise in card issuing, account management, and embedded finance, they’re shaping the way PSPs, ISOs, and merchants navigate the ever-evolving payments landscape.

In this conversation, Konstantin shares his perspective on the key trends shaping the payments industry, the transformative role of integrated financial services, and how acquirers can stay competitive in an increasingly dynamic environment. Let’s dive in!

What do you see as the most influential trends in the payments industry by 2025, and how should PSPs and acquirers prepare to support merchants in adapting to these changes?

The biggest transformation in the payments industry today — and what we see accelerating by 2025 — is the demand for deeply integrated experiences over stand-alone financial services. Historically, payment services digitization followed a predictable path: traditional banking processes were moved online, providing digital replicas of pre-branch operations. The next step saw challenger banks innovating within these frameworks, creating modernized but still discrete financial products accessible through dedicated apps.

Now, the landscape is shifting. Financial services are no longer siloed components but are becoming an integral part of broader business processes and customer experiences. This means that instead of merchants managing stand-alone acquiring, separate banking solutions, and unrelated financing tools, they now expect these elements to be combined into a single, coherent ecosystem.

For merchants, this integration transforms how they operate. Services such as payment accounts, account to account transfers, card issuing, and revenue-based financing are being bundled into unified offerings. PSPs and acquirers that deliver these comprehensive solutions streamline merchant workflows, enhance risk management, and capitalize on their merchant base, fueling their growth and innovation capabilities.

Supporting this trend is the rise of open banking-powered payment methods especially in industries underserved by card payments. These payment methods bring an added value: the institution providing the merchant's payment account assumes much of the risk. PSPs and acquirers must embrace this value chain by offering not just payment options but also robust and connected payment accounts.

 

 

Frictionless payment methods, such as Apple and Google Pay, and the increasing adoption of Click-to-pay, solution pushed by the schemes on both the issuing and the acquiring end, will further transform checkout experiences. By eliminating the need for customers to enter card details repeatedly, these methods enhance conversion rates and boost security.

Finally, we see opportunities in crypto payments , particularly with the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) providing a regulatory framework. A more crypto-friendly administration in the US could have a global ripple effect, positioning crypto as a viable payment option in mainstream commerce.

As the payments landscape rapidly evolves and merchants seek efficient, connected, and fast solutions, how can acquirers stay competitive, particularly in areas like streamlined merchant onboarding and real-time transaction monitoring? What innovations are emerging to meet these demands?

Merchants increasingly demand frictionless onboarding. Balancing these needs with regulatory scrutiny requires a modern approach. Acquirers must invest in emerging technologies to streamline onboarding processes while ensuring compliance. For example, AI can analyze merchant data, automate KYC, and reduce onboarding timelines without compromising quality.

In real-time transaction monitoring, attackers have access to the same advanced tools as PSPs. To stay ahead, we must not only invest in technology but also leverage data-sharing partnerships and pool data resources across the ecosystem. Collaborative efforts will help train better fraud detection models and update rules dynamically, providing robust protection against emerging threats.

How will Paynetics address these trends? What are the Paynetics' area of focus for 2025 and beyond?

Paynetics is uniquely positioned to become one of the leading players in Europe. With one of the most comprehensive payment stacks, we enable PSPs and ISOs to deliver well-rounded services. Our issuing memberships and EMI licenses in the EU and UK empower partners to offer everything from payment accounts to card issuance and practically deliver the coherent service required by modern merchants. 

To enable our partners to respond to the upcoming trends, we will be investing in making embedding the wider product set within their propositions as easy as possible. Making introducing account opening, transfers and cards as simple as copy-paste. Doubling down on this we will be offering a fully-fledged white label merchant portal including all these services.

Credits: Paynetics.digital

With open banking and Pay by Bank gaining traction, how might these trends reshape the traditional role of acquirers, and what should merchants consider when balancing these newer payment methods with established card payment options?

Open banking and Pay by Bank methods are reshaping the traditional role of acquirers. While card payments will remain significant and will evolve, offering enhanced convenience and security. To stay competitive, PSPs and acquirers must provide merchants with a diverse set of payment methods.

For open banking, as mentioned, the critical value lies not only in offering the payment interface but also in providing robust merchant payment accounts where funds are aggregated. With regulations like APP Fraud in the UK, and similar ones coming foin the EU, increasing scrutiny, payment account providers must manage greater risks, securing their place as a vital part of the value chain. Success will depend on offering seamless open banking integrations alongside a reliable account infrastructure.

What advice would you give to merchants when selecting an acquirer to meet their future needs, considering advancements in technology, customer expectations, and regulatory changes?

When selecting an acquirer, merchants must prioritize partners who are forward-thinking and aligned with future payment trends. Look for acquirers that:

• Offer a comprehensive suite of services, including payment accounts, real-time settlements, and diverse payment methods.
• Have a strong technological foundation, leveraging AI and automation to improve efficiency.
• Stay ahead of regulatory changes and prioritize compliance.
• Collaborate with trusted ISOs like CatalystPay, who bring local expertise and operational excellence to the table.

A reliable acquirer isn’t just a service provider — it’s a partner that empowers merchants to grow and adapt in an ever-changing landscape.

 Wrapping Up

Thank you, Konstantin, for such an insightful discussion on the trends and transformations shaping the payments landscape. From the integration of financial ecosystems to the growing impact of open banking, frictionless payments, and crypto, it’s clear that merchants and acquirers alike have exciting opportunities ahead.

At CatalystPay, we value partnerships with forward-thinking organizations like Paynetics, who are driving innovation and empowering businesses to adapt to this rapidly evolving environment.

This conversation marks the beginning of our renewed CatalystConversations series, where we’ll continue to bring together industry leaders to explore the future of payments and share actionable insights. Stay tuned for more engaging discussions coming soon!