Date: June 21, 2025
Visa Inc. has acquired Tappit, a UK-based fintech company specializing in cashless payment solutions for live events, concerts, and sports venues. The acquisition—valued at approximately $460 million—aims to deepen Visa’s reach in the booming event tech market, where fans demand faster, more secure, and immersive payment experiences.
Tappit’s tech enables wristband-based contactless payments, real-time fan engagement analytics, and even age-verification for alcohol purchases. With this acquisition, Visa will integrate Tappit’s technology into its broader tap-to-pay ecosystem, offering seamless transactions at stadiums, festivals, and arenas globally.
The move follows Visa’s broader strategy to expand beyond traditional finance and become a core infrastructure provider for real-world experiences through embedded finance.
Key Highlights:
- Visa taps into $25B live event economy
- Tappit supports wearables, NFC tags, and mobile payments
- Strengthens Visa’s merchant network in sports and entertainment
- Expands capabilities in data-driven fan engagement
Why It Matters:
This acquisition positions Visa as a leader in event-based fintech, creating opportunities for real-time, frictionless transactions and valuable consumer data insights.