At first glance, launching a card issuing or acquiring business may seem like a straightforward technical task. Build a sleek app, partner with a payment processor, and you’re off to the races. But fintechs quickly discover that under the surface lies a complex ecosystem of regulatory hurdles, scheme certifications, infrastructure decisions, and operational demands that can derail even the most well-funded startups.
In a landscape where consumers expect instant payments, seamless digital experiences, and rock-solid reliability, delivering on those expectations requires more than just ambition. It requires deep industry knowledge, robust infrastructure, and an intricate understanding of how global payment networks function.
Launching in payments isn’t just about great ideas – it’s about execution within a very complex environment,” says Nikita Melnikovs, Board Member at DECTA. “We’ve seen promising fintechs stall not because of a weak product, but because they underestimated what it takes to go live.
The roadblocks most fintechs underestimate
Before a single transaction can be processed, a fintech must secure regulatory approvals – often an EMI or PI license – and navigate onboarding with Visa or Mastercard. Even with licensing in hand, there’s the decision of whether to rely on third-party processors or build and maintain a card system in-house. Add to this the need for a compliant 3D Secure setup, IBAN account issuance, fraud prevention tools, and transaction monitoring, and the scope quickly widens beyond most initial expectations.
Acquiring presents its own set of challenges: onboarding merchants, ensuring real-time settlement capabilities, building smart routing engines, and handling local payment method integrations. Every region, every market, brings unique requirements – both technical and regulatory that must be carefully accounted for.
And let’s not forget compliance. Regulations don’t stand still. From PSD2 to evolving AML directives, keeping up with global and local regulatory changes can demand a dedicated legal and compliance function – a costly burden for young companies just finding their footing.
It’s not just about tech – it’s about experience
Technical readiness is only part of the equation. Many promising fintechs have solid development teams but lack the experience to navigate the nuanced requirements of launching and scaling a payments business. This is where many hit a wall.
The difference between success and stagnation often lies in the ability to make the right infrastructure decisions early, to avoid regulatory missteps, and to launch with a model that is both compliant and scalable. These aren’t things you Google your way through – they require trusted partners who’ve done it before.
Why this matters now
With increased competition in the payments space and investor pressure to scale quickly and efficiently, fintechs can’t afford to stumble through a trial-and-error approach. Every delay in certification, every failed integration, every misstep in compliance is a missed market opportunity.
There’s a growing recognition that the most successful fintechs aren’t just the ones with the best user interface – they’re the ones that got their infrastructure right from day one.
Creating a clearer path forward
Having supported the launch of hundreds of acquiring and issuing businesses across Europe, APAC, MENA, and LATAM, we at DECTA have seen these challenges play out repeatedly. That’s why we’ve developed the Fintech Fast Track – not as a product offering, but as a support framework for ambitious fintechs looking to scale smarter.
The program provides selected acquirers and issuers with not only discounted access to DECTA’s payment processing platform but also hands-on guidance, strategic industry connections, and up to €100,000 in launch savings. It’s designed to remove friction in the earliest stages of growth, giving fintechs the space to focus on innovation and customer experience – not regulatory paperwork or backend complexity.
To learn more about the Fintech Fast Track and apply, visit: www.decta.com/fintechfasttrack
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