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
Datavault AI and Coppercore Inc. Announce Tokenization of High-Grade Copper Resources into Coppercoin(TM)31.3.2026 15:15:00 CEST | Press Release
$100 Million in Initial Coppercoin™ Issuance to Set Industry Standard in Tokenized Copper PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2026 / Datavault AI Inc. ("Datavault AI" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:DVLT), a leader in data monetization, credentialing, digital engagement, and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization technologies, and Coppercore Inc. ("Coppercore") today announced the closing of a definitive agreement to digitize and tokenize significant copper resources. The transaction enables Datavault AI to deploy its patented IDE®, DataScore®, and DataValue® blockchain tokenization platform to create Coppercoin™ digital tokens representing pro-rata ownership interests in the underlying in-ground resources. The initial program targets the minting of $100 million or more in Digital Copper Tokens. Coppercoin™ tokens are structured such that each token corresponds to five pounds of underlying high-grade copper resources, with pricing directly linked to the COMEX copper benchmark on a pe
Champions Oncology Names Brian Alexander to Board as Company Advances Data-Driven Oncology Strategy30.3.2026 16:55:00 CEST | Press Release
Appointment underscores Champions' focus on leveraging clinically relevant data to power next-generation oncology R&D HACKENSACK, NJ / ACCESS Newswire / March 30, 2026 / Champions Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq:CSBR), a leading translational oncology research organization, today announced the appointment of Brian Alexander, MD, MPH, to its Board of Directors. Dr. Alexander brings extensive experience at the intersection of oncology, data science, and drug development, having held senior leadership roles at organizations including Valo Health, Flagship Pioneering, and Foundation Medicine. His addition supports Champions' strategy to expand the use of clinically relevant data to inform drug discovery and development. Champions is advancing an approach that connects its portfolio of patient-derived tumor models with molecular and clinical datasets to drive more informed decision-making across the drug development lifecycle. This foundation enables the use of advanced analytics and AI to generate
CORRECTION: Mandela Dollar ("MUSD") Announced to Promote Mandela's Legacy of Financial Inclusion for Underserved Communities Across the World30.3.2026 16:25:00 CEST | Press Release
This Press Release updates the previous version that had incorrect information Datavault AI Inc., Mandela Dlamini & Manaway L.L.C., and Unity Reserve Holdings L.L.C. Launch MUSD Stablecoin to Advance Financial Inclusion and Honor Nelson Mandela's Legacy PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESS Newswire / March 30, 2026 / Datavault AI Inc. (NASDAQ:DVLT) ("Datavault AI" or the "Company"), a leader in data monetization, credentialing, digital engagement and real-world asset ("RWA") tokenization technologies, Mandela Dlamini & Manaway L.L.C., a Wyoming, USA-based entity ("MDM LLC") dedicated to advancing Nelson Mandela's vision of equality, dignity, and economic empowerment, and Unity Reserve Holdings L.L.C. ("Unity Reserve"), today announced the official launch of Mandela Dollar ("MUSD"), a new USD-pegged stablecoin designed to promote financial inclusion for underserved communities globally. MUSD is designed to serve as a transparent, secure, and accessible digital dollar built on blockchain technology
Mandela Dollar ("MUSD") Announced to Promote Mandela's Legacy of Financial Inclusion for Underserved Communities Across the World30.3.2026 15:15:00 CEST | Press Release
Datavault AI Inc., Mandela Dlamini & Manaway L.L.C., and Unity Reserve Holdings L.L.C. Launch MUSD Stablecoin to Advance Financial Inclusion and Honor Nelson Mandela's Legacy PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESS Newswire / March 30, 2026 / Datavault AI Inc. (NASDAQ:DVLT) ("Datavault AI" or the "Company"), a leader in data monetization, credentialing, digital engagement and real-world asset ("RWA") tokenization technologies, Mandela Dlamini & Manaway L.L.C., a Wyoming, USA-based entity ("MDM LLC") dedicated to advancing Nelson Mandela's vision of equality, dignity, and economic empowerment, and Unity Reserve Holdings L.L.C. ("Unity Reserve"), headed by Mustaq Patel, today announced the official launch of Mandela Dollar ("MUSD"), a new USD-pegged stablecoin designed to promote financial inclusion for underserved communities globally. MUSD is designed to serve as a transparent, secure, and accessible digital dollar built on blockchain technology, enabling low-cost remittances, savings, micro-lending
Safe Staffing Requires New Models of Care, Not Just More Clinicians, Says Global Taskforce30.3.2026 15:00:00 CEST | Press Release
TruMerit-led report highlights innovative staffing models, technology-enabled care, and team-based approaches to strengthen health systems worldwide. PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESS Newswire / March 30, 2026 / A new international report released today by TruMerit™ calls for a fundamental redesign of healthcare workforce models to address global staffing shortages and strengthen patient care. The report, "Safe Staffing Through New Models of Care," presents a systems-based framework to help health leaders, regulators, and policymakers rethink how care teams are structured, how clinicians work together, and how technology can support safer and more sustainable care delivery. Developed by an international taskforce of health system leaders, regulators, academic experts, and clinical innovators, the report emphasizes that solving workforce shortages requires more than simply increasing the number of clinicians. Instead, it calls for modernizing care delivery models to enable health professionals
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