Nikolas Sargeant
Mesh's new Apple Pay integration enables merchants to accept cryptocurrency payments without building specialized infrastructure, bringing blockchain commerce closer to mainstream adoption.
Revolutionary Payment Bridge Connects Digital and Traditional Commerce
In a significant advancement for cryptocurrency adoption, payment platform Mesh has unveiled its Apple Pay integration during a live demonstration at Token2049. The feature, presented by Co-Founder and CEO Bam Azizi, allows Mesh-partnered merchants to accept crypto payments through Apple's widely-used payment system.
Set to launch later in Q2, the integration creates a seamless bridge between crypto users and traditional merchants. Shoppers can pay using popular cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, while merchants receive settlement in stablecoins like USDC, USDT, or PYUSD through Mesh's proprietary SmartFunding technology.
"As soon as crypto payments are as seamless as fiat payments, nothing is left to stop the mass migration of global commerce onto blockchain rails," Azizi explained during the demonstration. "Mesh is solving the UX and convenience pieces."
The technology leverages Apple Pay's NFC capabilities, enabling crypto payments in physical stores with the same simplicity as traditional card payments. Customers simply check out using Apple Pay, verify with Face ID, and complete transactions in seconds—regardless of whether they're shopping online or in-store.
Financial Giants Accelerate Crypto Payment Innovation
Mesh's Apple Pay integration emerges amid increasing cryptocurrency payment activity from major financial players. The company recently secured $82 million in Series B funding led by Paradigm with backing from Consensys and Yolo Investments, and has built a network of over 300 integrations including Coinbase, Binance, MetaMask, and Phantom.
This development follows global payments provider Stripe's announcement that it's developing a USD-backed stablecoin for companies operating outside the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe. Stripe recently received regulatory approval to acquire Bridge, a stablecoin payment network designed to compete with traditional banking systems.
Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey recently advocated for Signal Messenger to integrate Bitcoin for peer-to-peer payments, a sentiment echoed by former PayPal president David Marcus. Singapore-based Triple-A is planning to integrate PayPal's stablecoin, while PayPal itself has launched stablecoins with yield incentives for holders.
Together, these developments signal a substantial shift toward cryptocurrency adoption in everyday commerce, with Mesh's Apple Pay integration representing one of the most consumer-friendly implementations to date.
