The partnership will enable BTC Markets customers to make direct debit, prepaid or credit card payments into the Cryptocurrency Exchange seamlessly, safely and securely delivering the same experience as making any other online purchases.

The partnership reflects a significant leap for BTC Markets customers who previously could only pay using bank transfer. The shift will enable more payment options, creating a world-class digital experience that mirrors that of an e-commerce check-out.

The partnership with Mastercard will see BTC Markets benefit from access to Mastercard’s broad range of payments and fraud technologies and capabilities to ensure BTC Markets are at the forefront of safe and secure payments.

BTC Markets CEO Caroline Bowler said: “As the cryptocurrency landscape continues to grow and evolve, customers are increasingly looking for faster and simpler ways to access cryptocurrency securely and efficiently. We’re excited to be partnering with Mastercard, who share our focus on stability, innovation and consumer protection, and enable us to offer our clients new ways to engage with this emerging digital asset class.”

Richard Wormald, Division President, Australasia for Mastercard said: “Mastercard is excited to partner with BTC Markets to enhance the cryptocurrency trading experiencing for consumers in Australia. The partnership will see BTC Markets leverage our technology to provide a smart, simple and safe way for consumers to top up their digital cryptocurrency wallets, delivering a frictionless e-commerce experience.”

This is BTC Markets’ third strategic partnership announcement in the last six months. In September 2021, it announced a banking relationship with Volt Bank to access their unique banking-as-a-service (BaaS) platform, followed by a trading arrangement with online broker SelfWealth in February 2022.

As a collaborative and innovative exchange, BTC Markets is on a mission to bring together forward-thinking partners who understand the opportunity in cryptocurrency.

“From BTC Markets’ point of view, it’s about understanding the needs of our Australian consumers seeking to access crypto safely and securely,” Ms Bowler added. “Together with our partners, we want to co-create an ecosystem for our clients – to complement their existing finance relationships in the banking, payments and investments space – all under one roof.

“From an industry perspective, we’re seeking to demonstrate how crypto can sit alongside traditional finance to seamlessly work together in a financially inclusive future,” she concluded.

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Mastercard’s new technology centre in Sydney will compliment their global hubs (New York City pictured.)

Mastercard has announced it will relocate its Sydney-based employees and businesses to one location in 2018. The new premises in St Leonards will become one of five Mastercard Global Tech Hub and Innovation Centres, offering technology and innovation services to partners globally.

The announcement forms part of the Mastercard strategy to evolve beyond payments – as rapid urbanisation and new technologies foster the shift to mobile, the proliferation of big data, and a growing demand for cyber security.

“Over the past five years, Mastercard has made important acquisitions in technology and services that have helped it gain momentum towards its vision of becoming an innovative technology and services leader,” said Richard Wormald, Division President of Mastercard Australasia.

“As the internet continues to reshape the payments industry and create new opportunities, business must evolve their offerings to keep up with new demands. Mastercard is leading the way, acquiring assets that place innovation at the core of our offering and by bringing together all of our 560 Sydney-based people to unite in a practice of innovation.”

The new space will have dedicated technology teams to accelerate innovation across key growth areas of artificial intelligence, machine learning and cyber security; giving Mastercard the unprecedented advantage of developing and delivering tailored solutions for local and global partners.

“Australia is the perfect location for our new Tech Hub. We are already providing our local partners with a range of innovative business solutions and by opening a hub in Sydney, we’ll be able to deliver more dedicated services and solutions more quickly than ever before and on a global scale,” said Kush Saxena, Global Chief Technology Officer for Mastercard.

This new offering will complement our key technology centre in Brisbane and build upon Mastercard’s St. Louis, New York City, India (Pune-Vadodara), and Dublin hubs, reinforcing the business’s commitment to developing the most cutting-edge payment technologies and services.

Mastercard is working with leading Australian architects Davenport Campbell to design the new space. The design and build is due to commence this year, with Mastercard employees relocating from mid-2018.

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