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Merchant Payments Ecosystem Announces Winners of the MPE Awards 2026

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SHOP Shopify was recognized twice in the MPE Awards 2026, winning 'Best Platform / Marketplace Provider' and 'Best Use of AI & Data for Commerce & Customer Empowerment'. This indicates positive recognition for their platform and AI capabilities within the merchant payments ecosystem. CHKP Checkout.com won the 'Merchant Payment Acceptance of the Year' award at the MPE Awards 2026. This award highlights their excellence in the critical area of merchant payment acceptance within the industry. FTCI Elavon, a subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp (USB), was recognized for 'Best Risk, Fraud & Compliance Solution'. While Elavon is a US-based entity, the article does not provide specific sentiment for U.S. Bancorp itself, only for its subsidiary's award.

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

[email protected]

+421 917 802 770

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#mpecosystem #MPEAwards #MPE2026

SOURCE: Merchant Payments Ecosystem