Why the future of payments runs on partnerships: Inside Money20/20 Europe

• FinTechs are scaling faster by partnering with enablers, proving that integration beats going solo.

• Leading companies now treat payments as a strategic growth lever, not just a cost of doing business.

• True innovation in Fintech comes from collaboration, not from competition, especially when serving diverse markets like SMEs.

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Zilch put it perfectly: “1 + 1 = 3.” 

In a fireside chat with VISA and NYSE, the conversation focused on how FinTechs are scaling faster, not by going it alone, but by plugging into networks and partners that accelerate their capabilities. 

Take Zilch and VISA, for example. Zilch, a rapidly growing FinTech, uses VISA’s infrastructure to scale safely and efficiently. VISA, in return, gains access to new, agile markets. A true win-win. 

The big question is whether to build or partner. 
The best approach is to start with your goal, then find the partner who can help you get there quickly and effectively. 

VISA shared a standout stat: 69% of FinTechs are already profitable. Banks that partner with them can extend their reach without building everything from scratch. 

What it means for Aevi: 
This reflects Aevi’s own approach. Our platform helps partners stay flexible by letting them choose the right acquirer, device or service without needing to rebuild. With Aevi’s orchestration layer, complexity becomes a competitive advantage. 

Payments aren’t just a back-end function anymore. For forward-thinking businesses, they have become a strategic driver of growth.

Take the travel industry. It is one of the most complex verticals for payments. Think currency conversion, fraud risk, local preferences and tight regulations. Getting payments right in this space is tough, but when it works, it drives serious value.

That is why step one is getting the basics in place. Step two is finding the right partners to help you go further.

The best partnerships are not just about sharing the load. They bring together different strengths to create something better. They open up new markets, improve customer experiences and deliver commercial impact.

That message came through loud and clear in “The Payments Revolution” session at Money20/20.

On the other side, there is Adyen. In a recent Fintech Insider Insights podcast, they shared their approach to full control:

Their philosophy is all about maintaining control. They believe partnerships can slow down innovation. That’s why they even secured a banking license, bringing everything under one roof to keep operations as streamlined and self-contained as possible. 

It’s a sharp contrast, and a reminder that there’s no one-size-fits-all model. 

What it means for Aevi: 
Aevi sits in the middle. We offer control through openness. You don’t need to rebuild your stack to make it work harder. With Aevi, you get a flexible infrastructure that lets you orchestrate payments across devices, acquirers and services, in a way that’s both strategic and profitable. 

In financial services, where complexity and regulation are part of the everyday, going it alone is no longer the smartest route.

Partnerships have become more than just a tactic. They are a mindset. One that focuses on inclusion, shared value and long-term growth.

Collaboration builds resilience. It creates relevance. And it helps businesses navigate the challenges of a fast-changing landscape.

That message came through loud and clear in the session “Talk is Cheap,” where Enfuce summed it up perfectly:

It is no longer about competition. It is about connection. The businesses that thrive are the ones that work together to deliver better outcomes for everyone.

What it means for Aevi:
This aligns with Aevi’s belief that no single player can, or should, go it alone. Our open platform makes it easier for partners to plug in, integrate fast, and co-create solutions that fit the real-world needs of merchants and customers alike. 

The embedded SME lending panel was another proof point. Société Générale Factoring and Defacto highlighted how underserved and complex SMEs really are. 

SMBs are diverse: Each one has unique needs, risk profiles, and expectations. 

Banks struggle with this complexity, which makes lending slow and risky. 

Partnerships remove blockers: Collaboration brings in niche expertise and API-driven agility to serve SMEs better and faster. As Defacto shared: you need different tech depth and different knowledge areas to meet real SME needs. No single company can do it all well. 

What it means for Aevi: 
We’ve seen the same reality in in-person payments. The needs of merchants from retailers to cafes to fuel stations are diverse and evolving. Aevi’s platform supports this variety by enabling partners to deliver seamless, compliant, and scalable solutions tailored to different segments, without compromise. 

Money20/20 made one thing unmistakable: the next era of fintech belongs to the collaborators. Whether you’re solving for global scale, local complexity, SME access, or seamless customer journeys you can’t do it alone. 

And you don’t have to! 

At Aevi, we believe the future of in-person payments is open, partner-powered, and orchestrated for agility. 
Because when the right pieces connect, you go further. 

The question now isn’t should you collaborate? 

It’s who can make 1 + 1 = 3 for you? 

Tip: 
At the event, we joined great conversations around build vs. buy, payment orchestration, and emerging industry trends, together with our friends from Fintech Finance, IXOPAY, and the Power 50. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter below to stay updated on the exciting interviews that will be going live soon.