Peymo, a London-based financial technology company developing an AI-powered hybrid banking platform, has launched an integrated financial ecosystem addressing one of the most widely recognised structural challenges in cryptocurrency: the disconnect between digital asset ownership and real-world financial usability.
Despite rapid global adoption, cryptocurrency still remains largely isolated from everyday financial infrastructure. Industry estimates indicate that over 580 million individuals and businesses worldwide now hold cryptocurrency, yet fewer than 15,000 merchants globally accept it directly. This represents less than 0.003% real-world usability, leaving the vast majority of digital assets difficult to spend or integrate with traditional financial systems.
Rather than treating cryptocurrency as a separate financial universe, the Peymo platform connects self-custodial digital assets with global payment infrastructure, enabling users to transact across both crypto and fiat networks through a single unified platform.
A Hybrid Financial Model
Peymo combines decentralised crypto capabilities with traditional banking infrastructure to create a new category of hybrid financial services.
The platform enables users to:
- Pay merchants directly with cryptocurrency through instant QR payments
- Spend crypto globally via mobile wallets and payment cards
- Receive bank transfers from around the world directly into crypto wallets
- Send fiat payments globally funded by cryptocurrency balances
- Access multi-currency banking infrastructure for both individuals and businesses
This hybrid architecture allows cryptocurrency to interact with traditional financial networks without requiring users to abandon the benefits of self-custody.
“Cryptocurrency adoption has expanded dramatically, but the ability to use digital assets in everyday financial life has not evolved at the same pace,” said Tomas Bartos, CEO of Peymo. “Peymo is building the infrastructure layer that allows crypto assets to interact seamlessly with the global financial system.”
Direct Crypto Payments in the Physical World
At the core of the Peymo ecosystem is a self-custodial mobile wallet and payment application. Users maintain full control of their digital assets while gaining the ability to make instant crypto payments using QR codes. A merchant simply enters the purchase amount, generates a QR code, and the customer completes the payment by scanning it with the Peymo app. The payment settles directly on-chain, allowing cryptocurrency to function as a true peer-to-peer payment instrument in physical stores worldwide.
Crypto Spending Through Global Card Infrastructure
To further extend usability, Peymo is launching a crypto-funded Visa card program, enabling users to spend digital assets at existing point-of-sale terminals worldwide. The card integrates with Apple Pay and Google Pay, allowing cryptocurrency to be used seamlessly across millions of merchants without requiring those merchants to accept crypto directly. This approach allows digital assets to operate within existing global payment infrastructure while maintaining a decentralised asset base.
Global Banking Connectivity
Another key component of the Peymo ecosystem is the introduction of global local receiving accounts. Users can receive bank transfers through domestic banking rails in multiple countries. Incoming fiat payments are routed through Peymo’s infrastructure layer and credited directly to the user’s cryptocurrency wallet after conversion, enabling individuals and businesses to receive funds through traditional banking systems while operating primarily within a crypto-based financial environment.
Similarly, users can send funds globally by converting cryptocurrency into fiat and distributing payments through established banking networks, enabling cryptocurrency to function as a global settlement layer for cross-border payments.
Merchant Payment Infrastructure
Beyond individual users, Peymo is building a global merchant ecosystem through the Peymo CryptoPay gateway, allowing online businesses to accept cryptocurrency payments directly. Initial integrations include WooCommerce, followed by expansion to major global e-commerce platforms:
- Shopify
- Wix
- BigCommerce
- Magento (Adobe Commerce)
- Squarespace
Through these integrations, millions of online merchants gain the ability to accept crypto payments through familiar checkout environments.
AI-Powered Financial Intelligence
Peymo’s long-term vision extends beyond payments into AI-driven financial automation. The platform introduces a layered AI architecture across three areas:
- AI Support: a conversational assistant capable of helping users execute transactions, resolve issues, and understand their financial activity
- AI Marketing for Merchants: automated promotion and loyalty systems designed to help merchants increase customer engagement and sales
- AI Financial Intelligence: advanced transaction analysis, spending insights, and predictive financial tools that transform raw transaction data into actionable intelligence
A New Infrastructure Layer for Digital Finance
The Peymo platform reflects a broader industry shift toward infrastructure designed to bridge decentralised assets and traditional financial systems. Instead of operating as a traditional exchange, wallet provider, or payment processor, Peymo introduces a hybrid financial architecture combining:
- Self-custodial crypto wallets
- Global banking connectivity
- Merchant payment infrastructure
- Crypto spending capabilities
- AI-driven financial intelligence
By integrating these layers, Peymo aims to transform cryptocurrency from a speculative asset class into a fully functional global financial system.
